RTI movement activists protest against highway ban

Srinagar, Apr 5: Activists of Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) Movement on Friday staged a protest demonstration against the recent ban on civil movement on Srinagar-Jammu highway for two days in every week.
Shouting slogans and displaying placards, scores of activists assembled at Press Enclave here and termed the decision as “undemocratic”.
“It is undemocratic and it will suppress the people of Kashmir,” said RTI chairman, Raja Muzaffar.
“Such decisions ultimately result in subjugation, and it will alienate the masses further,” he added.
Saying that the highway is the only lifeline between valley and rest of world, the RTI chairman along with his associates requested the State Government to revoke the decision as soon as possible so that the common people will not suffer further.
Earlier, the J&K Government notified specified days in a week for the movement of government forces from Srinagar to Jammu. According to order, during these days, no civilian traffic would be allowed on National Highway.
The government has notified two dedicated days in a week i.e, (Sunday & Wednesday) exclusively for movement of government forces convoys and there would be a complete ban on civilian traffic on the highway during these two days from 4 AM to 5 PM. This prohibition would be from Baramulla through Srinagar, Qazigund, Jawahar-Tunnel, Banihal and Ramban till Udhampur.
The Government has further decided that in the event of any requirement for local traffic movement for any emergency or for another purpose, the local administration and police would evolve necessary procedures for this as is done during curfew days. These restrictions would remain in force till May 31 2019.
It would be recalled that the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to Kashmir post-Pulwama attack in February 2019, had announced that no civilian traffic movement would be allowed during the convoy days.