Srinagar/Jammu, Apr 11: The stalemate between striking employees and the government continues and there seems no end in sight to the deadlock. On Sunday government warned the employees of strict action in case they fail to resume their duties while the later refused to budge.
Talking to Greater Kashmir the Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Sagar warned that any employee disrupting essential services would be taken to task. “We have reports that some vested interests are threatening those employees who attend their duties. We warn them to desist from such tactics, failing which strict action would be taken against them.”
“Some elements are misleading the employees and politics is being played on the issue. Government has already fulfilled most of the demands and the Chief Minister has assured that the pending demands would be fulfilled. They should resume work failing which government will have no option but to take action against the employees’ leaders,” he warned.
 Sagar claimed that Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers and contractual employees were working normally. “If the strike continues, government is contemplating to engage educated youth on ReT pattern,” he said and warned the employees not to compel government for any strict action against them.
 The Joint Consultative Committee member and EJAC (K) president, Khurshid Alam, told Greater Kashmir that strike would continue till ‘genuine’ demands of the employees are fulfilled. “We have called JCC members from Jammu and on Monday we will take decision about future action of plan. Till April 13 we have already called for the strike.”
 Sources said that in tomorrow’s meeting JCC will extend its strike call till April 17 and there is also possibility that schools may be exempted from the strike from 8 am to 12 noon daily.
 Alam lashed out at the government for feeding general public wrong facts in media. “Despite JCC’s reciprocation and gesture to the appeal of the Chief Minister to resume dialogue, the government has failed to invite the employees’ leaders or clear ground for resumption of dialogue to end the present stalemate.”
 He said that 30 arrested employees have been shifted to Central Jail Srinagar.
 Meanwhile, JCC member, Jaswant Singh, in a statement from Jammu said, “Joint Platform of Action (a national level forum, an amalgam of central and state employees of all other states) has supported our strike call and resolved to sound all constituent bodies of all other States to observe strike in our favour.”
 The Civil Secretariat Employees Union president, Nazir Ahmad Mir, while lashing out at the government said, “There is police Raaj in J&K and martial law like situation prevails. Government is making propaganda that Civil Secretariat is functioning properly but the fact is that there is complete strike.”
 He said that they would take decision on future course of action on April 13. “We will announce new programme on April 13,” he added.
 On government’s offer for talks, he said, “Nobody has approached us for talks, but instead government is using pressure tactics. We won’t budge till our demands are fulfilled,” he asserted.
 Meanwhile, J&K EJAC (Collective Leadership) has decided to go ahead with its proposed SK Park Chalo program on Monday.
 “As per the schedule we will march to SK Park at 11 am tomorrow where we will announce our next programme,” J&K EJAC leader, Rafiq Ahmad Khanyari told Greater Kashmir.
 He warned the government that essential services would join the strike if it continues to ‘harass’ the employees. “We have exempted essential services for the sake of people. Government is lying that essential services are functioning normally. But if government continues with its anti-employee tactics, essential services will also join the strike,” he warned.
 Khanyari said that in Jammu “Jail Bharo” programme is scheduled on Monday. “If we aren’t allowed to march to SK Park in Srinagar, we will also go for Jail Bharo in Srinagar,” he added.
 The Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Me’raj Ahmad Kakroo said that no procession would be allowed in any part of the city. “No permission has been sought and no permission will be given as section 144 is in place. Security arrangements have been beefed up and no disruption of law and order will be allowed,” he said and warned, “If anyone tries to break the law, action would be taken.”
 The inspector general of police, Kashmir Farooq Ahmad said that police would ensure that the restrictions are not defied. “We won’t allow any rally or any other programme anywhere unless permission is sought from district magistrates of respective districts,” he said.
 Police has arrested hundreds of employees, including many leaders of the Employees Joint Action Committee, and JCC during the past few days for violating the restrictions.
 Hundreds have been arrested and scores injured in the past week of the employees strike.
 Meanwhile the J&K Daily-wagers Joint Action Forum has supported SK Park Chalo call. The General Secretary of the Forum, S Umar Bhat, said, “People are suffering and government is watching as a mute spectator. Time has come when Chief Minister should fulfil his promises made with the employees and dailywagers without any further delay.”
GKNN adds from Jammu: With no end in sight to the stalemate over the ongoing employees’ agitation, the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) Sunday extended the strike till April 19, 2010 to press their demands.
 EJAC has also called for ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ (court arrest) on April 12 (Monday) across the Jammu province.
 The district administration has directed the police to remain vigilant in the wake of proposed ‘court arrest’ program of EJAC. Official sources said additional police personnel have been deployed at several places to avoid any law-and-order problem.
 Earlier, addressing a hurriedly convened press conference here Sunday, EJAC leaders Sushil Sudan and Subash Sharma said: “The decision to extend the strike for a week was taken after threadbare discussion following the indifferent attitude of the government towards the employee’s demands and the invoking of ESMA to crush the agitation.”
 From Monday, they said; “The employees would not go to their respective offices as they are being unnecessarily harassed by the police and they would observe a complete lockout.”
 While condemning the claim of the district administration that 85 percent employees have joined their duties, Subash Sharma alleged hat the district administration was misleading people, with the false statements.
 Disclosing that hundreds of employees under the banner of EJAC would court arrest at three places, senior EJAC leader Muhammad Gafoor Dar told Greater Kashmir, on phone, that “The court arrest program would be organised at GGM Science College, SMGS hospital, Government Medical College hospital, and Panama Chowk.”
 Dar said the court-arrest programs would be also organised at the district and tehsil headquarters.
 Welcoming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s talks offer, Dar said: “Talks were not possible in a situation when some of the employees leaders have been put behind the bars while the rest have gone underground fearing arrest.”
 Meanwhile, demanding revocation of ESMA, the CPI-M Sunday appealed the chief minister to head an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the 6th pay commission arrears.
 “We appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to visit New Delhi along with an all-party delegation to meet PM and Finance Minister to manage funds for the arrears of the 6th Pay Commission to employees and pensioners so as to end the strike,” party regional secretary, Sham Prasad Kesar, told reporters here.
 Criticising the government for “failing” to fulfil its commitments towards the employees, Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference has asked the political parties to work out a solution acceptable to both the parties.
 “All political parties need to come forward in hammering out a formula to the satisfaction of the aggrieved employees. We criticise the coalition government for failing to handle the employees’ issue properly and also use of force by the Omar government,” Senior Vice President of ANC, Muzzarfar Shah told reporters in Jammu.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST