* Several arrested in Srinagar, released
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Oct 22: Entire fleet of nearly 850 vehicles of the J&K Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) remained off the road today as its over 2200 workers went on ‘Chakka Jam’ strike from Lakhanpur to Kupwara and even up to Leh -Ladakh today in protest against the non-release of their wages by the Government for the last four months.
The agitating workers did not allow to operate even a single vehicle today and held massive protest demonstrations at Jammu, Srinagar and Leh cities. The workers were raising slogans against the JKRTC Management, Finance Department and even the Chief Secretary and the Advisor concerned. They alleged that despite performing duty during most trying times of Corona pandemic , they are being denied their hard earned wages by the Government.
In Jammu, a large number of workers along with their vehicles including trucks and buses assembled at the Regional Headquarters of the JKRTC, near Jammu Railway Station and held strong protest demonstration. Paramjeet Singh, J&K UT president of the RTC Union was leading the protest at Jammu. The protesting drivers, conductors/ cleaners, mechanics and other technical and clerical staff assembled in the main complex and held protest demonstration. They were carrying banners and placards in hands demanding their salaries.
When they came out on the road taking out massive protest demonstration, a strong police contingent stopped them. They told that they wanted to hand over memorandum to Divisional Commissioner Jammu for the Lt Governor, but they were not allowed to move out. Later, the concerned SDM South reached there and took the memorandum from them telling that it will be forwarded to the Lt Governor with their demands.
In Srinagar, Chairman of the RTC Workers’ Union, Wazahat Hussain was leading the protest. A large number of RTC workers assembled at Sher-e-Kashmir Park and from there they tried to take out protest march but a strong police contingent foiled their march towards Raj Bhawan by resorting to use of water cannons and mild lathi-charge on the workers. Five Union leaders including Chairman Wazahat Hussain, vice chairman Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Khalid Ahmed, Nazir Ahmed Dar and Basharat Iqbal were arrested and taken to Kothi Bagh. Later, a small group of Union leaders was allowed by Administration to submit memorandum to Lt Governor at Raj Bhawan. The Union leaders were also released by Kothi Bagh police in the evening.
Wazahat Hussain said that without any reason, the Management of the JKRTC has stopped the wages of the workers. He said Corporation employees and their children are facing starvation. Despite several requests to the Managing Director, Secretary Transport and even to the Advisor concerned, the Government has failed to release wages of the workers. He said Rs 63 cr is the liability of several departments including some Deputy Commissioners’ towards JKRTC, but this amount has not been cleared. He demanded that SRTC workers should be paid on regular basis. He warned to intensify struggle. The Chairman further disclosed that only one month’s salary of the workers was released by the Management this evening which is again a grave injustice.
He said similar strike was observed at Kargil and Leh by the SRTC workers today as they are also without wages for four months. He said there was no operation from any Depot of the JKRTC today and entire fleet remained off the road. The general public was hit with the strike of JKRTC today.
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