PDP protests in Jammu, Srinagar; alleges Rs 13000 cr scam in JJM

PDP activists being stopped by police during protest rally in Jammu. — Excelsior/Rakesh
PDP activists being stopped by police during protest rally in Jammu. — Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Sept 13:J&K Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today held strong protest demonstration in Jammu against the alleged Rs 13000 cr scam in the Jal Jeevan Mission in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

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The activists of the PDP led by senior youth leaders-Parvez Waffa and Varinder Singh Sonu besides Rajat Gupta and Sohit Sharma, assembled at the party office, Gandhinagar here today and then took out protest march towards Bikram Chowk (Tawi bridge).They were shouting slogans against LG’s Administration and BJP demanding high level probe into Rs 13000 cr scam.
While talking to media persons Parvez alleged that a senior IAS officer from Dalit community who exposed scandal in Jal Jeevan Mission worth Rs 13000 cr. and brought to the notice of Chief Secretary and Lt Governor was victimised and transferred about 3-4 times from one department to the another within one year. He said the money ment for poor people of J&K was being misused..
The PDP leader alleged that while UT administration was claiming through advertisements to bring end to the corruption and bring transparency in the system but this all seems to be an attempt to befool the people of J&K. He demanded that a high level probe should be ordered by the Modi Government in J&K Jal Shakti Department. A strong police contingent stopped their rally and they were not allowed to move ahead.
Meanwhile, PDP today held protest in Srinagar against the reduction in import duties on foreign apples and termed it as economic terrorism against J&K farmers and fruit growers.
Speaking to the media, Suhail Bukhari, the chief spokesperson for PDP expressed concerns about the impact of the recent development on the Apple Industry in Jammu & Kashmir & Himachal Pradesh. He emphasized that the decision to eliminate duties will have severe consequences for the economic well-being of both Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. H pointed out that local fruit sales had been facing potential adverse effects for the past three years.
Bukhari said that GOI’s decision has come at the time when there is a harvesting season of apple at peak and prices have already gone down whereas last year at the same time our fruit laden trucks were deliberately made to stand on highway which resulted in huge crises to the people associated with this fruit industry. He said that BJP making tall claims of economic stability but actually its anti-people decisions have exposed its real face and now people have realised actual face of BJP for its deliberate attempts of targeting J&K economically.
Bukhari said that the hasty decision of Govt would have a devastating effect on local growers particularly in J&K, which is already grappling with huge losses since 2019.