JAMMU, APRIL 2: Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta has expressed concern over the National Conference (NC) government’s recent policy decisions, highlighting a contradiction between offering free bus travel for women and simultaneous increases in fuel prices and public transport fares.
Speaking at the meeting held at Party Headquarters in Jammu, the BJP stalwart acknowledged the initiative to provide free travel for women in government-owned buses across Jammu and Kashmir, recognizing it as a step toward women’s empowerment. However, he pointed out that this benefit is overshadowed by the government’s decision to reduce rebates on petrol and diesel, leading to a price increase of ₹1 per liter for petrol and ₹2 per liter for diesel.
“While the NC government claims to support women by offering free bus rides, they simultaneously burden the general public with increased fuel prices,” he stated. “This move not only affects individual vehicle owners but also has a cascading effect on the economy, leading to a proposed 7% hike in public transport fares.”
Kavinder lambasted the NC government for its economic mismanagement and deceptive tactics. “These back-to-back financial assaults on the people of Jammu and Kashmir reveal the NC’s utter disregard for the hardships faced by everyday citizens. Their strategy is clear: give with one hand and take away much more with the other, all while expecting applause for their so-called generosity.”
The senior bjp leader further emphasized that the cascading effect of fuel price increases extends beyond transportation, inflating costs across all sectors and deepening the financial strain on households. “This isn’t just about bus fares; it’s about the skyrocketing cost of living that the NC government is directly responsible for. Their policies are a masterclass in hypocrisy, punishing the very people they pretend to help.”
Kavinder called upon the NC government to immediately reverse these detrimental policies and adopt a transparent, honest approach that genuinely prioritizes the well-being of Jammu and Kashmir people. “The people deserve governance that is forthright and truly supportive, not a regime that hides punitive measures behind hollow gestures,” he added.
