Srinagar, Dec 02 (KNS): Protests continued on consecutive fourth day at Athwajan against government’s move to halt stone extraction in these areas.
The tipper drivers, stone quarry owners, laborers held a peaceful protest at roadside and demanded immediate revocation of government order.
They held placards, which read: “Don’t render thousands jobless, be democratic and not dictator, we are highly qualified youth self employed youth don’t hang us.”
Protestors said that it is responsibility of government to create job opportunities for the local youth.
“The government has been always encouraging local youth to establish own business units, prefer to be self employed. But it is very unfortunate that the youth who try to carry own business are stopped on one pretext or another,” Showkat Ahmad, a protestor told KNS.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a protestor, said that he has qualified MBA few years ago. “Government failed to provide me any jobs. My uncle who has been in this business from past several years, appointed me as accountant and is paying me handsome salary.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThis salary was enough for me to live a dignified life,” he added.
Ghulam Muhammad, who had been in this business from past forty years, said that it is responsibility of government to prepare and implement rehabilitation programes first before announcing any decision which has capacity to render thousands of people jobless.
“The prudent officials will never advise government to issue such orders. They will first prefer to frame rehabilitation programme,” said Sajad Ahmad, a protestor.
Muhammad Maqbool, President Himalaya Quarry and Tipper Association told KNS that heavy contingent of forces arrived early on Tuesday morning and prevented them to carry any activity at the sites.
“The peaceful protests continued today. We have also taken up the matter with some politicians who assured that they would take up the matter with chief Minister,” he said. (KNS)