Chattabal residents brought Bemina to a grinding halt
Residents stage protest against NFSA, CAPD
Residents of Chattabal area in Srinagar Monday blocked the main road at Bemina crossing near Tatoo ground to protest against the Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD), department for failing to provide them ration from last two months.
Rising, anti- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and anti- National Food Security Act (NFSA) slogans, scores of residents mostly women took to streets on Monday morning and formed a human chain and blocked roads to protest against the CAPD.
The traffic on vital roads including on Qamarwari- Batamaloo and Bemina Bypass to Chattabal came to screeching halt as protesters halted the traffic movement on all these roads.
“CAPD has not provided us ration from past two months. We have been left with no other alternative but to take to streets to protest against the authorities to get our problems resolved,” protesting women told.
Taking dig at the PDP, residents accused it (PDP) has created “food crises” in the valley particularly in Srinagar by implementing “anti- People” food law in the state.
“How can a family of five or six members survive on mere 5 kgs of ration for a month? Such anti- people laws have been implemented by the PDP to starve Kashmiris to death,” protesters said.
Protesting residents demanded authorities must provide them ration as per the previous practices to address their grievances at the earliest. “Each ration card holder family must be provided 35 kgs ration to meet monthly food needs,” protesters demanded.
Meanwhile, passengers suffered a lot as they were compelled to cover the distance from Bemina Crossing to Batmaloo and Qamarwari on foot as traffic on the roads was halted for hours together.
Accusing police of inaction, passengers told that police failed to clear the roads and resume the traffic. “Police is watching as mute spectator, while as people mostly patients have been suffering due to road blockade,” passengers said.
However, SHO Police Post Qamarwari, Syed Waseem told that protesters dispersed peacefully and traffic was resumed on all roads after half an hour smoothly.
Meanwhile, Director CAPD could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
