United opposition protests in Jammu against authorities’ anti-people policies
Jammu: All Parties United Front (APUF), a Jammu-based amalgam of over a dozen opposition political and social parties, staged a protest demonstration in Jammu, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, today, against the anti-people policies of the authorities.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the APUF held the demo to press for restoration of statehood ahead of the Supreme Court set September 30 deadline for holding of assembly elections in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The protesters, including senior members of the Congress, National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and Communist Party of India-Marxist, assembled outside the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh near Tawi bridge in the heart of the city, also seeking rollback of a recent Modi government’s order providing more powers to the Lieutenant Governor.
Congress leader Ravinder Sharma said, the main opposition parties, minus BJP and its cohorts, have come together to convey a strong message that Kashmiris want immediate restoration of the full statehood before holding of the assembly elections along with democratic rights to the people of Kashmir.
“The BJP is on record having promised restoration of statehood to the people of J&K in Parliament and the Supreme Court. It failed to keep its promise and also hold assembly polls in the last six years. Now when the Supreme Court set the deadline for assembly elections draws nearer, it has given more powers to the Lt Governor to continue its proxy rule,” Ravinder Sharma said.
The protesters were carrying placards and chanted slogans in support of restoration of statehood, land and job rights and holding of the assembly elections.
National Conference leader Rattan Lal Gupta also slammed the BJP for delaying the assembly elections and expressed hope that the Election Commission which is visiting occupied Jammu and Kashmir next week will ensure the holding of much awaited polls.
