Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, MAR 27:
Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Amit Kapoor and other colleagues have strongly raised the demand for waiving old electricity bills and said that alcohol should be completely banned in Jammu and Kashmir. Along with this, he extended his full support to the striking daily wage earners and said that all daily wage earners should be regularized immediately and Minimum Wages Act should be implemented in their case.
Amit Kapoor said this while addressing a press conference in Jammu. Attacking the hue and cry being raised by the BJP regarding waiving electricity bills and providing 200 units of free electricity, he said that the BJP is only shedding crocodile tears. Whereas it has nothing to do with the problems of the people.
Expressing deep concern over power cuts, Amit Kapoor said that smart meters were installed in the state during the BJP rule and people were promised that after the installation of smart meters, they will be provided electricity round the clock. He said that despite this, the government has not been able to provide 24-hour electricity to the people and power cuts are continuing. He strongly demanded from the government that the old electricity bills should be waived immediately and 200 units of free electricity should be provided to all the people. Expressing deep concern over the protest being carried out by the daily wage earners, Amit Kapoor extended full support to them. He said that even though the government has formed a committee to resolve their issues, this process is likely to take time.
He strongly demanded from the government to immediately release the pending salaries of all the daily wage earners working in various departments including National Health Mission (NHM) and Asha workers. He said that the daily wagers’ strike has created a water crisis and people are facing problems even for drinking water while the government has failed to make any alternative arrangement. Along with this, he said that daily wage earners should be paid minimum wages in line with the standards of the Union Territory as is the practice in other parts of the country. Ensuring wages on time is not just a matter of policy but a commitment to the dignity and well-being of these hardworking individuals. He appealed to the government to show empathy and adopt a humane approach to resolve their grievances. He said that daily wage earners are demanding what is their right. Immediate payment of pending wages and implementation of minimum wage standards should be the top priority. The government should show its commitment to social justice by acting decisively. Demanding a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir, Amit Kapoor slammed the BJP for opening a large number of liquor shops during the BJP rule.
He said that BJP leaders are silent on the existence of meat and liquor shops near the temple in the railway station. Along with this, he also said that during the BJP rule, one person had hundreds of liquor shops in his name which are still there which he has taken in different names in the name of his close relatives.
He demanded that there should be a high level investigation into this entire matter and this scam should be exposed and there should be a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
