Scores of inhabitants of Saraf Kadal Thursday took to streets against the recently implemented National Food Security Act (NFSA) and blocked the main road of the area.
The residents were chanting slogans like ‘we want justice’ and were demanding the rollback of NFSA, which they termed as “anti-public law”.
The residents told media that the recently implemented act didn’t accommodate to the aspirations of people here. “The government who are claiming to provide benefits to the people in every aspect should rollback the law so that the tall claims won’t prove hoax,” they said.
They said that the Valley residents are rice eaters and it is not possible for them to survive on three to five Kgs of ration per month. “The implementation of the act is clear example of discrimination with the people of Kashmir as the consumers who are rice eaters are being forced to take inadequate ration,” they said.
The protesters later demanded the rollback of the Act and asked the authorities to distribute ration as per old scheme.
Meanwhile, reports said that inhabitants of Kangan and its adjoining areas also staged protest against the law and have threatened of a 'mass agitation' if the Act will not be revoked.
The residents blocked Srinagar-Leh highway while shopkeepers closed their shops to protest against NFSA.
The protesters handed over a memorandum to the SDM Kangan and also warned of a mass agitation against the Act.
The inhabitants in a memorandum have set a deadline of one week to the authorities for the rollback of NFSA and in case authorities fail to provide rice according to old scheme, they will start mass agitation.
Reports said that SDM, Tehsildar and SHO Kangan later reached the spot and pacified the protesters.
The law was implemented in J&K on February 15, this year, guarantees five Kg rice per person for a month. A day after the act was implemented; the Valley continues to witness protests, demanding its rollback.(Agencies)