Srinagar, Aug 24 (IANS) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, and the J&K Apni Party, led by former minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, staged separate protests in Srinagar on Monday against the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

The PDP demonstration was held at its party headquarters, where leaders and workers carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the National Conference‑led government.

They accused the administration of burdening consumers with higher charges and questioned the decision to increase tariffs despite promises of free electricity during the election campaign.

At the Press Enclave on Residency Road, J&K Apni Party leader Muhammad Ashraf Mir led another protest. Party workers carrying placards and banners raised slogans opposing the tariff revision. Protesters shouted “Omar Teri Sarkar Mein Andhera Hi Andhera Hai” while criticising the government over the increase in power tariffs.

The protests followed the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) approving an average 6.83 per cent increase in retail electricity tariffs for JPDCL and KPDCL, with revised rates scheduled to take effect from September 1. Both parties demanded that the government reconsider the hike and prevent additional financial burden on consumers.

Meanwhile, dissident National Conference Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi strongly criticised the Omar Abdullah‑led government for reneging on its electoral promise of free electricity. He said the administration had acted diametrically against its pledge by hiking tariffs across J&K.

Ruhullah told reporters he was considering resigning from the Lok Sabha, stating that he had not been able to fulfil the promises made by his party in its manifesto.

–IANS

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