Samajwadi Party workers protest against hike in power tariffs, penalties for traffic violation

AGRA: Samajwadi Party workers in Agra staged a protest on Thursday against hike in power tariffs and enhancement of penalties under the new Motor Vehicles Act. They also protested against the registration of an FIR against a journalist, for highlighting shortcomings in the miss day meal scheme in schools.
In a memorandum to the UP Governor, Anandiben Patel, the workers demanded that the Yogi government be directed to roll back the power tariff hike and the enhancement of fines under the MV Act, as they were anti people decisions. In addition, the SP workers urged the government to withdraw the FIR against a journalist in Mirzapur and also stop the harassment of party leader Azam Khan. The workers threatened to take to streets, if their demands aren’t met by the government.
District president in Agra Ramsahai Yadav said that after hiking fuel charges, the government had increased electricity rates and added extra burden on the common man. "On One side, the government is spending crores of rupees for lightening earth lamps and showering flower petals on kanwariyas, and on the other they are putting burden on innocent people by hiking rates of power and increasing fines”, he added.
“We condemn the state government’s decision of lodging an FIR against the journalist, who exposed the quality of food being served to the students under the mid-day meal scheme,” said Yadav, adding that it was an undemocratic step.
Spokesperson of the party in Agra, Ram Dravesh Yadav said, the state government is unnecessary harassing SP leader Azam Khan. He claimed that the government has booked Khan and his family members under “fake” charges. He said that Yogi government has imposed an undeclared emergency, where no one is allowed to speak truth and raise a voice of dissent.