Jammuites protest against discrimination: Forced to pay Rs 200 for a travel distance of 60 kilometer whereas it is free in Kashmir Valley
   20-May-2019

 
 
Jammuites are up the ante against the discriminatory treatment of Jammu. The protest was onsetted against National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), for the recent hike in toll tax at Ban Toll Plaza between Jammu and Udhampur. While addressing the gathering, Jitender Vermani, president Beopar Mandal, said that on the one hand State Governor announced to reduce the toll tax in Kashmir Division besides planning to abolish toll tax from the civilians but on the other hand, toll tax in Jammu region from Toll Plaza Ban Jammu has been increased to Rs 200 just for cars/jeeps, etc. Amidst raising of slogans, the protesting people also torched an effigy of the Highway Authority.
 
Scores of youth from Udhampur town under the banner of Civil Society Udhampur on Sunday held a peaceful sit-in against levying of ‘extra road tax’ on local vehicles. The protesting youth led by one Rohit Khajuria claimed that they are being forced to pay Rs 200 for a travel distance of 60 kilometer which is “discriminative” in nature as “state government has recently withdrawn an order that levied tax on vehicles in Kashmir Valley”. Khajuria further said that nowhere across the nation, people are paying Rs 200 for a to-and-fro journey of 30-60 kilometer each, “then why the people of Udhampur, Katra, and Jammu are being harassed in the name of toll tax?”
 
Protesters have warned the NHAI that if it does not stop overcharging, the protest will be intensified.