JAMMU, Jun 7: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has extended its full support to the ongoing agitation of sanitation workers of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and simultaneously criticized the recent hike in domestic LPG cylinder prices, terming both issues as matters directly affecting the common people.
Addressing media persons, Shiv Sena (UBT) J&K State President Manish Sahni urged the administration to take immediate and positive action on the genuine demands of sanitation workers. He described the Municipal Workers Union’s demand for the withdrawal of the NGO-based sanitation management system in JMC as justified and reasonable.
Sahni questioned why a similar arrangement has not been implemented in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and alleged that sanitation workers in Jammu were being subjected to discriminatory treatment. He emphasized that sanitation workers are the backbone of the city’s cleanliness and hygiene system and their concerns should be resolved through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Appealing to the administration to initiate meaningful discussions with union representatives before the June 9 deadline, Sahni warned that failure to address the issue could lead to a sanitation crisis and pose public health challenges in the city.
Referring to the ongoing agitation, he noted that Municipal Workers Union President Rinku Gill has already announced that if no concrete decision is taken by June 9, sanitation workers will proceed on an indefinite strike. The union has maintained that any disruption resulting from such a situation would be the responsibility of the municipal administration.
In a separate but related concern, Sahni strongly criticized the recent increase in domestic LPG cylinder prices, calling it another burden on households already grappling with inflation and rising living costs.
He said the hike would further strain homemakers, middle-class families and economically weaker sections. “The kitchen budget of ordinary families is under severe pressure. Rising prices of essential commodities and cooking gas have made it increasingly difficult for people to manage household expenses,” he said.
The Shiv Sena leader urged the Central Government to immediately roll back the LPG price hike and provide relief to the public. He stated that inflation has already affected every section of society and any further increase in the cost of essential commodities would deepen the financial hardships faced by common citizens.
Sahni reiterated that both the concerns of sanitation workers and the rising cost of living require urgent attention from the authorities to safeguard public welfare and maintain social stability.