In Tadaar Khul tehsil of Poonch district of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, citizens went on a rampage after it was revealed that worms were found in subsidized flour.
The angry protesters went to the Food Department office and raised slogans against alleged negligence and mismanagement.
According to locals, there was intense anger and resentment among citizens after the incidents of worms appearing in flour bags came to light. However, the protests intensified when a statement was made by the Food Minister on May 1, which said that “worms are not in the flour but in the minds”.
The citizens called this statement insulting.
The protesters say that the quality of subsidized flour has become extremely poor. Corruption is rampant in the Food Department. There is a continuous failure to provide cheap and quality goods to the public.
They demanded that the government conduct a transparent investigation into the quality of flour and punish the responsible officials.
It may be recalled that in May 2024, the prices of flour in Pakistani Kashmir were significantly reduced as a result of the Joint Public Action Committee (JAAC) movement, which was seen as a public relief. However, recent events have raised questions about the transparency and effectiveness of this system.
So far, no official explanation has been issued by the Food Department or the district administration on this issue. Citizens have warned that the scope of the protest may be expanded if immediate steps are not taken.
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