Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 10: Retired State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) employees held a massive protest demonstration against Transport authorities at the Exhibition Ground here after the police foiled their march towards Civil Secretariat today. A large number of normally retired, voluntarily and forcibly retired employees of State Road Transport Corporation assembled at the Exhibition Ground near Press Club in the morning at around 10.30 am. Under the banner of Voluntarily Retired Employees Association, these Transport workers held protest demonstration shouting slogans against the SRTC management and State Transport authorities. President of the Association Dev Raj Bali and general secretary Surinder Singh were leading the protest. The employees were raising slogans in support of their demands. Some of them also carried placards and banners depicting their demands. Several employees leaders also addressed the gathering and criticized the government for non-clearance of their pending dues. They demanded that pending 126 slabs of COLA be paid to them besides providing benefits under 6th Pay Commission. They also alleged that despite assurance of clearing their dues within 60 days of VRS, SRTC authorities failed to make payment even after three years. The protesting employees then took out rally towards Civil Secretariat via Gumat and Shalamar at around 11.30 am but a strong contingent of police intercepted them at Dogra Chowk and raised barricades. The employees resisted the police action but could not move ahead amidst minor-scuffle with cops. The agitating retired employees then moved back to the original venue and after holding protest dharna there for some time dispersed. They raised slogans against Transport Minister, Finance Minister and Chief Minister besides State police. Several senior members including Balwinder Singh, B V Sharma, D N Sharma, Sain Mohd, Asan Elahi and others also addressed the gathering.
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