Demanding proper rehabilitation, around 30 shopkeepers of Jammu’s Nai Basti, who got eviction notices from Highway Authorities for expansion of Satwari-Bikram-Chowk stretch of Jammu-Pathankot highway, on Tuesday began a hunger strike after series of futile meetings with administration.
The families of shopkeepers led by local BJP leaders accused the administration of deliberately delaying the relocation despite the commitment by LG Manoj Sinha in July last year.
“LG’s commitment has been ignored by the administration. In the last meeting three month ago, JMC commissioner gave verbal assurance that all shopkeepers will be relocated at under construction Chanderbagha Hall. Even documents of shopkeepers where sought but eviction notices were served without relocation,” said BJP leader and former corporator Pawan.
He accused the authorities of failure to honour their commitments made with the people from time to time, forcing them to come on roads.
Earlier, BJP MLAs Sham Lal Sharma, Surjit Singh Salathia, Vikaram Randhwa and Dr Narinder Singh met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and raised the issue of shopkeepers relocation.
The BJP also raised the issue in the Assembly and sought proper rehabilitation of 39 shopkeepers, who are set to lose their business premises due to the ongoing construction of a flyover from Kunjwani to Satwari.
Congress working president Raman Bhalla also extended support to agitating shopkeepers and said that the LG administration made commitment with shopkeepers and sweets were distributed by BJP leaders but that commitment was not honoured and shopkeepers were served notices—(KNO)
