Srinagar, August 9: Dozens of government employees including EJAC President, Abdul Qayoom Wani were detained on Thursday after police foiled their proposed Civil Secretariat gherao to press for the fulfillment of demands of SSA teachers.
Police baton charged agitating employees and used coloured water to disperse them after the later started marching towards Civil Secretariat against the government for not resolving issues of SSA teachers.
Hundreds of employees under the banner of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) led by its President, Abdul Qayoom Wani assembled at Municipal Park wherein leaders of several employees unions addressed protesters vis-à-vis issues confronting SSA teachers.
When the protesting employees, who carried placards in their hands reading “justice with SSA teachers and release 7th pay arrears of SSA teachers”, tried to march towards Civil Secretariat, police swung into action and charged batons on them.
Police besides showering coloured water to disperse agitating employees detained dozens amongst them including EJAC President Abdul Qayoom Wani at Residency Road and lodged them at nearby police station Kothibagh.
Pertinent to mention here that SSA and RMSA teachers have been hitting streets over the past few months in support of their demands including release of seventh pay commission arrears and de-linking of salaries with state exchequer.
“We have gathered here to express solidarity with SSA and RMSA teachers whose seventh pay commission arrears are yet to be released. This protest was organized on the call of EJAC which represents 5 lakh employees of the state,” said Qayoom Wani before being detained.
Wani said the employees of all three regions including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will flood roads in case the genuine demands of SSA teachers are not fulfilled at earliest.
“We have decided to continue our support to SSA teachers until their genuine demands are fulfilled. This was a symbolic protest and incase the government continues to ignore their demands, five lakh employees of the state will come on roads in near future,” added Qayoom Wani.
He appealed the Governor administration to look into the issues of SSA and RMSA teachers to avoid confrontation in future.
