Scores Arrested; JCC Reiterates Pen Down Strike on April 17.Â
Srinagar: Police on Tuesday used coloured water cannons and took into preventive custody over two dozen employees as hundreds of them hit streets against government’s alleged failure to fulfil their demands including regularization of daily wagers within the agreed time frame.
Eyewitnesses said hundreds of employees under the banner of Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) from Shaheed Gunj this morning. As the employees were marching towards Press enclave, they were intercepted by police near Old Secre
tariat. Police used coloured water cannons to disperse the employees. However, protesting employees offered stiff resistance and refused to relent following which police took over three dozen of them into preventive custody.
The police sprayed the colored water while it was raining and in no time, roads, passer byes and employees were dyed in purple color, eyewitnesses said.
JCC senior leader and EJAC (K) president, Khusheed Alam told that the protest rally was taken against the government failure to adhere to its written agreement with the employees on 15th of September last year.
“Government entered into a written agreement with JCC that it will form committees that will submit their report to it before March 31 this year. While one committee headed by CS was tasked to look into demands including enhancement in retirement age, the two others were formed to address regulation of daily wagers and third committee to deal with the issue of pay anomaly,†he said, adding, “Unfortunately the committee headed by Chief Secretary is yet to submit his report. While chief Minister had announced that his government will adhere to the 15th September agreement in letter and spirit, it has been proven that bureaucracy is more powerful than political executive in the state.â€
He also reiterated pen-down strike call on April 17. “While employees will stay away from work in all three regions, protest rallies will be held in Jammu and Srinagar,†he added.
