SRINAGAR: Police today foiled the candle light march procession that was scheduled to be taken out by Government employees from Poloview to Chief Ministers residence to protest against the delay in fulfillment of their demands which mainly include the removal of Pay anomalies and enhancement in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.
Meanwhile, the government today said that the employees should shun confrontational attitude and join talks. Talking to KNS, minister for medical education Taj Mohi-u-Din, who is also the member of cabinet sub-committee dealing with employee demands, said that government should not be compelled for any harsh steps.
The Government can go to any extent if it is really keen to crush the agitation. But this government never wants any confrontation with its own employees. We want all the issues to be sorted out through talks. We had sought time from the employees union for only one issue that is the enhancement in retirement age but the employees have resorted to illegal means, portraying governments flexible attitude in a bad manner. This is unacceptable to the government.
Taj appealed the employees that to shun confrontation and resume talks. I appeal them not to close the option of dialogue and compel the government to avail all options available to it. The Chief Secretary has asked all the district administrations to take necessary action against employees who dont join their duties in protest. If the JCC really want to reach any conclusion then it should join talks with the government immediately.
According to reports several employee leaders were arrested by the police near Poloview when they were trying to lead the candle march to Chief Ministers residence in the late evening.
Huge deployment of police was made near Poloview so that the protest march could be foiled. The employees were baton charged by the police when they started taking out the procession.
Joint Consultative committee (JCC) spokesman while talking to reporters said that several leaders including Abdul Qayoom wani, Nusrat Beigh, Basharat Ahmad, Mohammad Shafi Ganae, Nasir Ali and shabir ahmad including other were arrested by the police and were detained in Police station Kothi Bagh.
The sources have revealed that the detained JCC leaders will be shifted to Central Jail Srinagar. The JCC spokesman has further stated that the scheduled protest programme has not been cancelled and the employees are informed to assemble near the Civil Secretariat Srinagar to make the Secretariat gherao a success.
JCC leadership had earlier called for the five-days protest programme from October 1 to October 5, 2013 after the talks with the Government failed to reach any conclusion. kns
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |