- विज्ञापन -
Ludhiana:
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today held a massive protest here while raising voice against the anti- people decisions of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
SAD had given a call of holding district-level protests starting from Ludhiana on Tuesday to protest the move of imposing new taxes on the people and withdrawing subsidies besides presiding over the complete breakdown in the law and order situation in the state.
As per the call, on September 11 the protest will be staged in Ferozepur followed by Fazilka on 12, Moga on 13, Sri Mukatsar Sahib on 16th, Bathinda on 17th, Mansa on 18th, Sangrur on 19th, Barnala on 20th and in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar on September 23.
Today, a delegation of senior members of the party also submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner Ludhiana demanding withdrawal of the increase in VAT on petrol and diesel besides withdrawal of the recently hiked bus fares and reintroduction of the power subsidy applicable to consumers with a load of less than seven kilowatt.
SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder said the AAP government was imposing one burden after another on the common man even as no effort was being made to improve civic amenities or establish new schools, colleges and hospitals. He said the increase in VAT on petrol and diesel had increased inflation in cities due to an immediate increase in transportation costs besides increasing the input costs of farmers. He said the increase in bus fares and withdrawal of the power subsidy had also affected the common man.
Condemning the AAP government for penalizing the ‘aam aadmi’ but doing nothing to improve civic amenities, Bhunder said “civic amenities in this city are crumbling and the poor condition of roads has made life hell for its citizens”. He said industrialists and professionals were facing extortions even as the common man was facing an increase in snatchings and robberies.
Senior leaders including Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Hira Singh Gabria and Gurcharan Singh Grewal also spoke on the occasion and highlighted how industry was fleeing the city due to ‘gangster rule’. They said new investment was also coming to the city due to lack of any concrete incentive to the sector by the AAP government. They said the small and medium scale industry was particularly hit but nothing was being done to save it. The leaders said the common man was also affected due to a steady increase in power rates as well as the doubling of the motor vehicle tax and registration fee.
