SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) has issued a strong condemnation against the use of lathi charge on peaceful protesters who were demanding the removal of the Toll Plaza at Sarore.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of J&K National Conference, expressed firm support for the protesters’ demand, emphasising that it reflects the genuine concerns of the people. He underlined the democratic right of citizens to peacefully demonstrate for justice, urging that such demonstrations should be met with understanding and cooperation.
Gupta highlighted a significant contradiction between the statements made by Union Minister for Highways, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, and the actions of NHAI Regional Officer P Shiva Shankar, who falls under Gadkari’s jurisdiction. While Minister Gadkari had clearly stated in Parliament that the distance between two toll plazas should not be less than 60 kilometers, the NHAI Regional Officer cited different provisions to justify the presence of two tolls at Sarore and Ban.
“This ambiguity requires immediate clarification from the Union Minister,” Gupta urged. He stressed that this confusion has resulted in the unjust imposition of tolls and has caused widespread public concern. The citizens of Jammu are grappling with the consequences of the BJP government’s alleged misgovernance, leading to unrest in the region.
Gupta also criticised the silence of the J&K BJP leadership regarding this issue, pointing out that the ruling party’s representatives’ lack of acknowledgment or action is adding to the unrest. He expressed deep concern over the rising tensions throughout the Jammu region, attributing them to what he called the BJP government’s indifference to citizen concerns.
In conclusion, Gupta demanded the immediate abolition of the Sarore toll plaza in response to the just and genuine demands of the people in the Jammu region.
