NC takes out anti-government rally, decries civilian killings & power woes

Srinagar: Opposition National Conference (NC) Monday staged a protest against power woes and civilian killing in Kupwara.
Reports said that after assembling at party headquarters at Nawai-Subh here in Kashmir capital Srinagar, the party workers led by General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar carried out a rally and headed towards Lal Chowk in Srinagar.
While talking to reporters, Ali Muhammad Sagar said that this protest rally was organized to rue the affairs of the state. “There is no government on the ground. There is no electricity and no drinking water. Arrest spree and killings are the order of the day,” he said.
Sagar alleged that government has miserably failed to provide basic amenities to the common people.
NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said the dearth of basic ration supplies at fair price shops and ration depots across the Valley was ample proof of the PDP-BJP Government’s sadistic approach in torturing the people. “Did the Mehbooba Mufti Government not know we had a winter approaching and it needed to take vital measures well in time to alleviate the hardships of the people? Kerosene meant for depots and fair price shops is sold in the open market at exorbitant rates through active collusion of officials and Ministers while the deserving common masses are robbed of their allocated monthly quotas. Basic rations like rice and flour are nowhere to be seen while our Chief Minister is busy in parading the Administration from one district to another to appease her party workers and activists under the fig-leaf of her ‘outreach program’. The Government has collapsed yet again and the people are paying the costs”, the NC Provincial President added.
Speaking on the occasion, YNC Provincial President Salman Ali Sagar decried the arrogant and insensitive behaviour of the PDP-BJP Government towards the people in general and the youth in particular was condemnable and deflated all claims and rhetoric of the Chief Minister. “This Government has declared an open war on the people and especially the youth. Thousands of students who have to prepare for crucial examinations cannot study because of the unprecedented power crisis in the State. If our youth have to worry about these basic necessities, how will they study and work and contribute towards the progress and growth of the State? All claims of the Government have proven to be hollow”, Salman Ali Sagar said.
The protesters were carrying banners carrying messages like “Stop civilian killings”, “Stop RSS agenda” and “Provide basic facilities to people”.
They termed the government probe into the killing of Kupwara driver as an “eye-wash”.
“Probes ordered in the past have yielded nothing,” they said.
Asif Iqbal, a cab driver, was killed in army firing in Thandipora village of Kupwara district late Saturday night, locals said. However, army said that he was killed in “cross-firing” with militants during an ambush.
The protesters were carrying lanters to symbolize the power woes.
The protesters tried to proceed towards city centre Lal Chowk, however, they were stopped by police near Polo View.