Jammu, Several protest demonstrations were held across the Jammu region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), voicing strong opposition to the policies of the authorities. Activists and residents took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with various governance and administrative issues.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the activists of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference staged a protest in Mankote, Mendhar Sub Division, demanding the restoration of democracy and an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of funds in the area. The protest, led by Pir Panjal Zone president of Congress, Javed Ahmed Rana, emphasized the need for grassroots democracy in the territory.
During the demonstration, Javed Rana highlighted the expiry of the tenure of elected members of Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats as a significant decline in democratic processes. He criticized the District Development Councils system of Governance and demanded transparency and accountability in the handling of government schemes.
Residents of Arigatoo village protested the steep increase in power bills, demanding the rollback of the recently imposed tariffs. They reported a 50 percent rise in monthly power bills over the last two years, exacerbating the financial strain on a community already struggling with poverty and flood recovery.
The Private Schools Body in Jammu also staged a protest against the government’s decision to tag students of around 60 private academic institutions operating on proprietary land as having “expired affiliations,” with government schools. The school owners expressed dismay over the tagging of students and appealed for reconsideration of the decision.
Additionally, employees of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in Jammu observed a ‘one-hour walk-out strike’ to highlight their long-pending demands, including wage revision. They called for immediate negotiations and a resolution to their grievances.
The Road Transport Corporation Volunteer Retired Employees Association also held a protest under the leadership of Dev Raj Bali, President of the VRS Union, Jammu. They expressed frustration over the non-clearance of their pending dues and criticized the behaviour of the Finance Department and higher authorities of the Transport Department.
These demonstrations underscore the growing discontent among various sectors and communities in the Jammu region, challenging the authorities’ approach to governance and policy implementation in IIOJK.