JAMMU Shocking tales of human apathy to the sufferings of Kashmir-bound stranded passengers in Jammu have come to the fore with some of them forced to pay Rs. 50 for a cup of tea and as much for charging mobile phone.
The alleged callous attitude of local Jammu population towards them has also made things more worse even as the RSS and BJP backed anti-Kashmir protests are intensifying, making them, especially women and kids, insecure.
According to a local news agency CNS, the Jammu city police chief has asked stranded passengers not to assemble anywhere for the registration for airlifting. He made it clear that nowhere in Jammu city, stranded passengers are being registered for air lifting, it said.
The stranded passengers who are short of money and other resources are finding it hard to manage the daily affairs. You wont believe, I was asked to pay Rs 50 to charge my cell phone by a shopkeeper in Jammu. That time I realized, some people in Jammu city have too much greed for money who seek pleasure in exploiting the helpless. I truly believe in Kashmiriyat and am sure if these people face the same situation in Kashmir, they will get a red carpet welcome, said Ghulam Muhammad Bhat from Aligund Tral.
The passengers who have been urging the government to take immediate steps to clear the road or airlift them to Kashmir are spending nights at bus stand, shrines, mosques and hostels. We look like beggars here. Administration is doing nothing for us, said another stranded passenger.
According to the news agency, RSS and BJP backed protests against stranded passengers intensified on Tuesday even as some philanthropists from Sikh community opened up the gates of several Gurudwaras for these Kashmir-bound stranded passengers. The local protesters accuse Kashmiri stranded passengers of raising pro-Pakistan slogans during an anti-government demonstration.
Reports said that over 1000 people are stranded due to closure of the highway and they continue to urge government to either airlift them or clear the thoroughfare so that they can move towards Valley.
Government should airlift stranded passengers as there are women and children who are suffering badly, they said, adding some of the shopkeepers are taking undue advantage of our miseries. We are made to pay Rs 50 for a cup of tea and same amount for charging mobile phones.
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