Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Police today foiled the protest march of the State Government employees towards Raj Bhawan in Jammu while over 150 employees were arrested when they resisted the police action and tried to move towards Shalamar Road in the winter capital city here today.
The work in most of the Government and Public Sector Undertaking offices was affected on the second consecutive day of the employees strike across the State today on the call given by JCC leadership. Today, a massive protest rally was organized by the employees under the leadership of Abdul Qayoom Wani, Khursheed Alam and Mohammad d Gafoor Dar in Jammu today.
Hundreds of employees from various districts including Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri etc assembled at Maulana Azad Stadium here in the morning. The employees were shouting slogans against the Government and also raising their demands including regularization of daily wagers, consolidated and ad hoc workers, enhancement in retirement age, payment of pending arrears/ wages, removal of pay anomalies, budgetary support and full Pay Commission benefit to the PSUs.
Several employees leaders including Mr Dar, Mr Wani, Khursheed Alam, Kulwant Singh, Ganesh Khajuria, Jaswant Singh, Amrik Singh, Sayeda Ladakhi and others addressed the large rally. They strongly criticised the Government for not honouring the agreement reached with the employees’ representatives and causing delay in meeting other pending demands. They alleged that employees were being forced to come out on the roads and adopt agitational path.
The employees then started their protest march towards Raj Bhawan via Jewel Chowk and Gumat. When they reached near Indira Chowk, a strong contingent of police intercepted them. The police had raised barricades and did not allow them to move towards Shalamar and Raj Bhawan. Employees resisted the police action and despite scuffle with the cops, they were not able to breach the strong police cordon. The police also resorted to mild cane charge and then arrested at least 150 employees, packed them in the buses and other vehicles and shifted them to District Police Lines, Gandhi Nagar.
Prominent trade unionists arrested included Qayoom Wani, Nazir Ahmed Moulvi, Gafoor Dar, Khursheed Alam, Ganesh Khajuria, Fayaz Andrabi, Kulwant Singh, Manzoor Pampori, Sayeda Ladakhi, Nusrat Ahmed and Amrik Singh. The arrested employees were however, released by police in the afternoon.
In Kathua, the employees held protest demonstration outside DC office here today. The employees assembled near Bhagat Singh Park and then moved towards DC office. The work in many offices remained hit due to strike. Manohar Singh and Kuldeep Singh were leading the protest. Similar protests were held at Rajouri, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Samba, Doda, Kargil, Leh and other parts while the strike was partial at many places. The work in the hospitals, however, remained unaffected.
In view of employees strike, the work in the Government offices also remained affected in Kashmir valley on the second day of the agitation. The attendance of employees was thin in many Government offices today. The employees also held dharnas in their respective offices.
A large number of workers from different departments assembled at ITI Bemina and held demonstration. The employees were shouting slogans in support of their demands and accused the Government of causing delay in addressing their issues. Employees from Govt Polytechnic for Women, Bemina, PDD, SDA and others also joined. They pledged for their support to JCC leadership.
Senior JCC leader Mohammad Abbas addressed the gathering and stressed upon the Government to address the pending issues of the employees. Abbas said employees are being forced to come out on the road and hold protests. He also condemned the use of force by Government against the agitating employees for their genuine and justified cause. SKIMS employees also held dharna at Soura in support of their demands.
Meanwhile, senior JCC leader Abdul Qayoom Wani said that top leadership of the amalgam held a meeting in the winter capital here this evening and discussed next strategy for the agitation. He said the next course of action will be declared during press conference here tomorrow.
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