Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Oct 13: While at least two dozen Government employees were arrested after they took out protest march in Srinagar city, the employees under the banner of a faction of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) staged protest demonstration in support of their demands near Press Club in Jammu today.
The members of State Government Employees Joint Action Committee led by Subhash Verma, Sushil Sudan, Suresh Sharma and others assembled at Exhibition Ground near Press Club here today and held protest demonstration. It was followed by day long dharna at the site. The employees from various departments and PSUs assembled there carrying banners and shouting slogans in support of their demands.
Several senior trade unionists addressed the gathering and criticized the Government for causing delay in mitigating employees’ sufferings. They demanded release of 6th Pay Commission arrears in cash in two installments, regularization of daily wagers, adhoc, contractual employees, Asha and Anganwadi workers, removal of pay anomalies, financial assistance to PSUs and providing benefit of 6th Pay Commission to all corporation workers, employees friendly Medi-claim policy and increase in medical allowance to Rs 1000 per month.
They pointed out that Government has backed out of its promise and forced the employees to resume the agitational path. They warned to intensify their protest programme after Darbar move to Jammu. It was also decided that Secretariat Chalo programme will be organized on November 5 from Press Club Jammu and a large number of employees would march on that day to lodge their protest.
In Srinagar similar protest was held at Press Enclave under the leadership of Aijaz Khan and Ishtiaq Beg. The employees’ leaders strongly criticized the Government for ignoring the pending demands of over four and half lakh employees of the State.
The employees tried to take out protest march towards city but they were stopped by strong police contingent. The employees showed some resistance and in the process the police detained at least two dozen employees including Aijaz Khan. They were however, released in the afternoon.
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