Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 11: Under fire from the employees for arresting their leaders, the Government today released six Joint Consultative Committee members on bail.
The State Government employees had called for two-day strike to press for the release of their six leaders, who were released today afternoon after First Class Magistrate granted them bail. JCC has cancelled the Tuesday’s protest after their leaders were released.
Abdul Qayoom Wani, President JCC, lambasted the Government for using “brutal” ways against the agitating employees who have been demanding their genuine right which is implementation of the September 2011 agreement.
Wani warned the Chief Minister that if the Government does not address the employees’ issues, then it will be costlier for the Government as “employees will launch an indefinite strike which will shut the whole state affairs.”
“In the next week Joint Consultative Committee will hold its meeting in Jammu, winter capital of the state, to decide future strategy about agitation”, he said.
JCC, which spearheads the ongoing agitation, has been demanding, among other things, extension of retirement age from 58 to 60, regularization of daily wagers, removal of pay anomalies in the clerical cadre, besides budgetary support for Public Sector Undertakings.
The members of Cabinet Sub Committee which is examining the demands of Government employees and Minister for Panchayati Raj, Ali Muhammad Sagar blamed the employees of being backed by a particular political party and called their protests “meaningless”.
“These (JCC) leaders are misleading the innocent employees. There are certain leaders in JCC who issue meaningless protest calendars after consulting their political bosses. They should know that they will get nothing out of this,” Sagar said.
Meanwhile, work in most Government offices in the Valley was affected today in response to the pen-down strike programme called by Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) for the release of its leaders.
Government offices in his capital city and other parts of the Valley registered thin attendance with most of the employees staying away.
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