Ganderbal, Aug 29: Members and workers of the Jammu & Kashmir United Movement (JKUM), led by party chairman Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, staged a protest in Ganderbal on Saturday against the 6.83% electricity tariff hike approved by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC).
Carrying placards and raising slogans, the protesters demanded an immediate rollback of the hike, saying the revised charges would put an additional financial burden on ordinary households.
Addressing the gathering, Jabbar termed the decision “an unjustified burden” on lower- and middle-income families already grappling with inflation and unemployment.
“At a time when the public expects economic relief and basic amenities at affordable rates, imposing higher power charges is completely anti-people,” Jabbar said.
He urged the government to fulfil its electoral commitments on electricity relief, including the promise of providing free baseline power units.
“Instead of increasing power charges, the government should provide relief to consumers and fulfil its electoral promises,” Jabbar said.
The protesters called for immediate intervention by the authorities and withdrawal of the revised tariff.
The 6.83% tariff increase approved by the JERC is scheduled to take effect from Sept. 1.
The demonstration was part of political opposition to the tariff revision across Jammu and Kashmir.
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