Srinagar, June 19: Intensifying the agitation to press for their demands including enhancement of retirement age, employees Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) on Tuesday announced a four-day agitation program starting July 9 that includes lockdown of offices and march to Lal Chowk Srinagar.
“A complete lockout of offices will be observed from July 9 to July 12, but schools will be open on 9th and 10th of July. However on 11th and 12th schools will also remain closed and employees will march to their district headquarters on 11th of July for submitting memorandum to the concerned District Development Commissioners. On 12th of July all the employees from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will peacefully march to Lal Chowk here to protest against non-fulfillment of our demands,” senior JCC leader Abdul Qayoom Wani said at a press conference here.
Flanked by senior JCC leader Khursheed Alam and others, Wani said they realize the problems faced by the common man by the agitation “but Government is adamant on creating confrontation. We are being forced to go for agitation. We just demand implementation of agreement.”
Criticizing the Government for linking the enhancement of retirement age with unemployment issue, Wani said, “According to the Government-appointed SL Bhat committee report only 7000 posts will be affected due to the enhancement of retirement age, but Government is not filling up 1.50 lakh posts. It was our number one demand in the agreement, why should we back out from that now?”
He asked the Government to come up openly about the salary bill received under non-plan from Central Government.
Wani criticized the Chief Minister for his remarks that JCC leaders were exploiting the employees for their personal interest. “Khursheed Alam gave a befitting reply to his accusation. He proved that it is not the personal movement of any one, but for lakhs of employees.”
Another JCC leader Farooq Ahmed Trali condemned the remarks of Chief Minister and said, “This movement belongs to every employee and we will launch an indefinite strike if Government does not show realistic approach and accept our demand.”
Fayaz Shabnum, Nusrat Ahmed Beigh and others also criticized the Chief Minister’s remarks on employees’ leaders.

ALAM APPLIES FOR PRE-MATURE RETIREMENT:
Senior JCC leader Khursheed Alam has applied for pre-mature retirement from Government job in the office of Director Consumer Affairs department. The development came a day after he had said that he will apply for retirement to protest against the remarks of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wherein he had accused some employees’ leaders of using the agitation for personal gains.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST