Atiya Mujeeb
SRINAGAR: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party held separate protests in Srinagar against the recent increase in electricity tariffs.
The PDP held its protest outside its party headquarters in Srinagar. Party leaders and workers carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the government and opposed the hike in electricity charges.
The protesters said the tariff increase would put an additional financial burden on ordinary consumers. They also questioned the decision to raise power tariffs despite the National Conference making promises of free electricity during the election campaign.
Meanwhile, a separate protest was held at Press Enclave in Srinagar under the leadership of Apni Party leader Muhammad Ashraf Mir. Party workers carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the tariff revision.
The protesters criticised the government and demanded that the increase in electricity charges be withdrawn.
The protests came after the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) approved an average 6.83 per cent hike in retail electricity tariffs for JPDCL and KPDCL. The revised rates are scheduled to come into effect from September 1.
