KABUL – Thousands of protestors on Monday gathered in Kabul to press government to review a controversial decision over Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Pakistan (TUTAP) electricity project, giving a one week deadline for their demands to be met.
The protestors vowed more demonstrations unless government approves the implementation of the project through central regions of the country, mainly Bamyan and Maidan Wardak provinces, as they believe it is more secure and economically beneficial for Afghanistan.
Outrage over TUTAP hit new heights this week when the government and power company, Da Afghan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), announced that the project will be implemented through Salang regions in northern Afghanistan.
DABS argued that if the project is implemented through Salang, it will decrease financial pressure on government. However, the decision faced setbacks amid public pressure over the redirection of the project.
Joining the protestors, Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, the second deputy to the Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, dismissed the cabinet's decision as a historic mistake.
"The people will not accept the recent decision made by the cabinet. They [people] will not remain silent until their demands are met," Mohaqeq said.
The protest organizers accused the National Security Council (NSC) of interfering in the project.
"Our demand from government is to cancel the decision of the cabinet and implement the project in the line with public demand," former Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili said.
Meanwhile, President Ghani's second deputy Sarwar Danish assured the protestors that their reservations will be taken into consideration by government.
"You (protestors) must be assured that no project in the country will be implemented until the people are agreed on it," Danish told the gathering and called the protest as the right of the people.
The protestors set a week deadline to the cabinet in order to review the decision.
"We do not value individual voices which were heard over the project. There is information that the NSC is against the project. People's demand should not be undermined," head of the governing body of Insijam Party, Sadiq Mudabir said.
The NSC has not commented on the issue so far.
Later on, Ghani appeared in the national television, pledging to task a "national commission" to carry out technical assessment into the project. (Tolonews)