Terming the National Food Security Act (NFSA) an anti-public law, hundreds of people in various localities Tuesday staged protest, demanding its roll back.The law was implemented in J&K on February 15, this year. The law guarantees five Kg rice per person for a month. The protestors alleged that they were provided only three Kg rice for one person.
People in various areas took streets as they alleged that they were provided just 3 Kg of rice.
Scores of people from Abi Guzar and its adjacent areas staged demonstrations at Residency road. They raised pro-justice slogans and demanded roll back of the Act.
“Three KGs of rice for one person for the one month is not sufficient in a state where people are rice eaters,” said protestors.
“We are three members in family. Under NFSA, we are entitled only for 9 KG rice for the entire month. The law denies us right to food,” said Shabir Ahmad, a protestor.
Scores of people also took streets at Barbar Shah here and blocked main road, demanding roll back of the Act.
Inhabitants of Barbar Shah and its adjacent areas raised pro-justice and anti NFSA slogans. “A family having five members is being provided just 15 kgs of rice for the consumption for entire month. Kashmiri people eat rice twice a day. We also offer rice to guests. Is 15 Kg sufficient?” said protestors.
During PDP-BJP regime, people had also staged protests in the Valley, opposing the implementation of NFSA. Even, the reassurances from the government that NFSA is “for the benefit of public at large” had no takers as people in Srinagar continued protests against the controversial law for several days.
People at Kralpora also staged protest demonstrations with similar grievance and demand. The protestors said: “The five kg rice allocation will no way suffice to the needs.”
The reports of anti-NFSA protests were also received from south Kashmir’s district Anantnag (Islamabad) and Pulwama.
Similar reports were received from various districts.
