Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: Former Minister, Yogesh Sawhney and Former Member Legislative Council and senior Congress leader from Kathua, Subash Gupta have strongly opposed the imposition of another toll tax at Lakhanpur Toll Plaza in Kathua district.
They said every department and institution are announcing relief to the affected due to Coronavirus, the NHAI has issued a notice to open another Toll Plaza in the proposed Lakhanpur from today that is unfortunate.
“Imposition of another toll tax is an act of exploiting people’s pockets. Is it a Navratras gift to the people of Jammu and the pilgrim of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi,” asked Yogesh Sawhney.
“It is a great set back to the people of entire Jammu division as well all pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Cave and Shri Amarnath Cave from the entire country by road transport as they will have to pay the toll tax thrice one way,” said Subash Gupta, a senior leader of Kathua district.
They alleged that however, the BJP had promised to remove the Toll Plaza at Thandi Khui- Vijaypur but it is sorry to say that despite taking action against the same, now the BJP leadership had earmarked another burden when the whole nation is fighting against deadly Coronavirus.
This is pure hypocrisy, retorted Sawhney. The BJP leaders who themselves had formerly protested against it and broken the toll plaza at Vijaypur during the UPA regime but now have been seemed silent over another Toll Plaza.
Blaming BJP for swindling the people on multiple accounts, Sawhney reminded it of its promise to remove the Toll Plaza at Thandikui-Vijaypur.
Congress leaders urged the Government to immediately withdraw this decision, calling it unwise and exploitative. It also compelled it to take into account other areas of concern which are causing distress to the general masses in Jammu.
Other Congress leaders who endorsed the statement included AS Mickey, Vinod Sharma, Ashwani Puri, Th Jai Singh, Hira Lal Abrol, Rickey Dalotra, Narinder Sharma, Raj Kumar Goyal and Gorav Kapoor.
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