PDP stages protests against LPG crisis

Srinagar, October 06 (Scoop News)  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said the present government has unlimited money for its luxuries but nothing for the benefit of the common man.

 This was stated by Mehbooba Mufti while addressing a protest rally organised by her party against the LPG crisis prevailing in the state and the government’s denial to increase the cap on subsidized cooking gas cylinders.

 The protest rally led by Mehbooba started from PDP headquarters at emporium Lane Residency Road and culminated at Regal Cowk.

 The rally was attended by PDP general Secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir, senior party leader Tariq Hamid Karra and Qazi Mohd Afzal, Gh Nabi Lone Hanjura, Javaid Mustafa Mir MLA, Mohd Khalil Bandh MLA, Syed Mohd Altaf Bukhari,Murtaza Ahmad Khan MLC, District president &MLC Mohd Ashraf Mir,Ab Hameed Kosheen, District president Saifudin Bhat, Mohd Maqbool Beig, Nisar Ahmad Mandoo, Ab Waheed Dar,  women Leaders  Asiea Naqash and Anjuma Fazilli , Youth leaders  Showkat Gayoor, Er. Nazir Yatoo, Syed Irfan, Jahangir Wani,  including all Zonal presidents of Srinagar District.  

 Later addressing the rally, Mehbooba said the state government has failed to address the cooking gas problem which has hit the state worst with the onset of winter. She said in Jammu and Kashmir, the LPG is not only meant for cooking but a source of heat, light and the survival. 

The government has reportedly decided to issue only 3 LPG subsidized cylinders for the remaining part of current year with a price of unsubsidized LPG cylinder fixed at Rs 961, she said adding that earlier the government had said the unsubsidized LPG cylinder would cost Rs 720.

 Mehbooba said the government’s intentions were exposed when it could not satisfy the opposition parties after PDP brought adjournment motion in the legislative assembly to discuss this vital issue. 

 She observed that PDP realizes that in absence of any other alternative fuel, LPG is the most essential commodity needed by every household in the state. “Even many households have been out of the cooking gas or they are on the brink of starvation,” Mehbooba remarked.

 The PDP president said that in view of the recent decision of the state government in pursuance of union government’s direction to raise the prices of Diesel and cooking gas, as also the fresh directions from the state government to recast the LPG list, panic has spread across state with a grave situation arising out of that, likely to lead to public unrest as the issue concerns common man.

She impressed upon the state government to work out a strategy to ensure the smooth LPG supply to state particularly the areas with harsh climatic conditions. “Since most of the people in Jammu and Kashmir live in sub zero temperatures, the limited supply of subsidized LPG cylinders would affect the state badly. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir; LPG cylinders are source of survival and any cap the subsidized cylinders will mean committing atrocities on them. The present government should take cue from Delhi and other congress led state governments and must raise the cap to at least 12 cylinders per year,” Mehbooba demanded. She termed Abdul Rahim Rather’s statement on LPG crisis in Legislative Assembly disappointing. “Rather Saheb says the government will have to cut pensionary benefits extended to widows and orphans if its increases the cap on subsidized LPG cylinder. But I wonder this government has enough money to meet out the sky touching expenditures incurred by its ministers.  National Conference should not befool people by it lame excuses as the party is in coalition with Congress and can easily convince it increasing cap on LPG subsidized cylinder for the benefit of common people,” she opined.  

She expressed concern over women waiting in queues for hours to get their LPG documentation done. “But despite waiting for hours in queues they return home empty handed and disappointed, hitting their heads in frustration,” said Mehbooba.  She also talked about the cumbersome registration and documentation process. “Government should make the LPG documentation process easy and also increase the subsidy cap to 12 cylinders per household,” she stressed.

Mehbooba said the ministers in the present government are facing blatant charges of corruption for they have been involved in creating huge assets both in the state and outside the country. Mehbooba said the National Conference led coalition government is involved in a backdoor appointment spree wherein its favorites are adjusted at the cost of genuine, meritorious candidates. “This government may have failed in all other sectors but it has succeeded in chalking out post retirement rehabilitation policy for its favorite officers and other employees. This has been done without bothering for the increasing burden on the state exchequer which its rues in case of extending an increment in cap on LPG,” the PDP president remarked. 

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