Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 6: Normal life was disrupted due to a strike called by Medical Employees Joint Action Forum (MEJAF), an amalgam of Medical professionals, Civil Society and High Court Bar Association-against the failure of Government to bring to book those involved in the spurious drug scam.
Shops, business establishments and educational institutions and courts across Valley remained closed, most of the public transport remained off the roads. However, private vehicles, auto rickshaws, emergency service vehicles and Government vehicles were plying on the roads throughout the day.
Across the Kashmir, most of the outpatient Departments in Government hospitals remained closed and only emergency service, operation theatres were open.
Meanwhile, protests were witnessed in Srinagar against Government for its failure to punish culprits involved in the spurious drug supply.
To stop Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from entering the Secretariat on the very first day, Independent MLA Langate, Engineer Rasheed along with his dozens of supporters took out procession from Jahangir Chowk towards Civil Secretariat, but the already heavy police force deployed in the sensitive area foiled their march and took all of them into preventive custody.
Rasheed appeared in Jahangir Chowk along with his supporters and started shouting slogans against the spurious drug scandal and the Government. During the scuffle, few of the protesters were injured.
Rasheed had last month in a press conference announced that he will not allow Chief Minister and his colleagues to enter the Secretariat premises on the eve of opening of Civil Secretariat in summer capital Srinagar, against the “failure of Chief Minister” to act against those accused and involved in notorious drug scam.
Protests were also held in Bemina by Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh Samaj Sudhar Forum (JKLSSF), in which dozens of Ladakh residents took part. “Instead of blaming one another, the Government should punish culprits immediately, so that such heinous crimes wouldn’t happen in the society,” said G R Dar, General Secretary, JKLSSF.
Dar also said, people have lost their faith on the present Government, who are involved scam after scam, but no one has been punished so far.
Scores of BJP workers including women workers also staged the protests against the Government at Press colony, Lal Chowk and demanded immediate sacking of former Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma.
The BJP workers also burnt the effigy of Sharma and demanded that a criminal case be registered against Sharma.
The Kashmir Economic Alliance also supported the strike call.
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