Some ministers creating wedge: Wani
SRINAGAR: A day after protesting government employees were released on bail, Abdul Qayoom Wani, senior leader of Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) — an amalgam of various employees’ unions in Jammu and Kashmir – sought personal intervention from the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for fulfillment of long pending demands.
Addressing media persons here Saturday afternoon, Wani alleged that some ministers in the present dispensation in the state were creating hurdles in an amicable agreement between employees and the government.
“There are some ministers who want to create gulf between the government and the employees. Some ministers like Taj Mohi-u-Din Sahib issue statements which are contradictory to their own party positions on employee demands,” Wani told KNS.
The JCC senior leader pledged to take the employees’ struggle to its logical conclusion. Wani said he strongly condemned the government action against the protesting employees.
“Let me make it clear to the people at the helm of affairs in this state that employees won’t succumb to any pressure, threats or any intimidation. We will strive for our just and genuine demands come what may.”
The JCC senior leader maintained that it was the government’s anti employees policy its deceptive attitude which compelled the employees to take to roads.
“Instead of fulfilling their long pending demands, the government put employees behind bars. Now the people should judge, who is a tyrant and who is a victim? Even the government didn’t allow the family members meet with the detained employees showing its autocratic mindset. But this gross violation of human rights can never deter employees from pursuing their just demands.”
He said that JCC has decided to defer its protests and other programmes till coming Eid-ul-Adha and after the festival is over the executive body of the Committee will meet and chalk out the future course of action.
“We are not interested in confrontation but we appeal the government that if it wants a peaceful solution of the problem, it should fulfill the pending demands of the employees as per the agreement reached between the two sides,” Wani said while appealing the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to use his office for the purpose.
The JCC senior leader also appealed the employees to remain united and do not allow the vested interests to create any wedge.
Pertinently, over 90 government employees including the JCC leadership were released on bail on Friday evening.
Among its various demands, JCC seeks enhancement in retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies and regularization of the daily-wage and casual labourers.
