Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 22: While police did not allow Public Health Engineering (PHE) employees to stage a protest demanding the implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment in Kashmir division, the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) today extended support to the employees and urged the Government to act.
Speaking to reporters, Sajjad Parray, Chairman of the Kashmir PHE Joint Employees Association, said they had scheduled a protest to press for the implementation of the amendment, but it was disallowed.
“We decided to stage a protest, but the police sealed the entire area and no one was allowed to come here. These measures will not deter us, and we will continue our struggle. The Constitution gives us the right to protest,” Parray said.
He pointed out that in 2021 the Administrative Council had issued an order, and the amendment was implemented in Jammu “in letter and spirit,” but not in Kashmir.
“On the contrary, the Chief Engineer issued an order opposing the amendment. We will go to the Court again, which has already issued directives in this regard,” Parray added.
Meanwhile, EJAC President Wajahat Hussain, while addressing a press conference and extending support to the PHE employees, said it was “a matter of shame” for the Government that officials were creating hurdles in implementing the amendment in Kashmir.
“This is shameful. It was passed by Parliament in 1993, but in J&K it was not implemented due to Article 370 and was implemented only partially.”
He further stated that after Article 370 was abrogated, the amendment became applicable by default in J&K,
He questioned why the Government was “acting as a mute spectator” and not taking action against those who have failed to implement the amendment in Kashmir, even though it has already been enforced in Jammu.
“The amendment was aimed at empowering local bodies, but officials are creating hurdles and even issuing threatening letters to employees. EJAC stands with them,” he said.
Wajahat urged the Government to “wake up” and ensure the amendment is implemented in Kashmir without delay.
“Otherwise, we will be forced to go to Delhi and question the partial implementation of the Constitution in J&K,” he warned.
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