Peaceful protests continued on consecutive third day at Athwajan and Panthachowk against government’s move to halt stone extraction in these areas.Authorities had deployed large contingent of forces at the sites of stone extraction to prevent the quarry owners and laborers to carry any sort of activity.However, the tipper drivers, stone quarry owners, laborers held a peaceful protest at roadside and demanded immediate revocation of government order.They held placards, which read: “Don’t render thousands jobless, ‘be democratic and not dictator, we are highly qualified, self employed youth don’t hang us.” Protestors said that it is responsibility of government to create job opportunities for the local youth.The government has been always encouraging local youth to establish own business units, prefer to be self employed. But it is very unfortunate that the youth who try to establish own business are stopped on one pretext or another,” said Mushtaq Ahmed, president United Quarry Association.A protestor said that he has qualified MBA few years ago. “Government failed to provide me any job.
My uncle who has been in this business from past several years, appointed me as an Accountant and is paying me handsome salary. This salary was enough for me to live a dignified life,” he added. Muhammad Maqbool, President Himalaya Quarry and Tipper Association told CNS that due to government decision the Crusher owners and Macadam Plant owners have also suffered as no raw material reaches to them. “We appeal to the government not to deprive us from our livelihood. We have been in this business for decades and there are thousands of people who have directly affected due to the decision taken by the government,” he said and added that government has left them with no option now except to hit to roads along with their families.“The peaceful protests continued today. We have taken up the matter with some politicians who assured that they would take up the matter with chief Minister,” he said and appealed Mehbooba Mufti to revoke the decision on humanitarian grounds. (CNS)