Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday denounced the “unprovoked and unjustified police action” on the peaceful protest by Rehbar-e-Khel (ReK) employees in Jammu.
In a joint statement released from the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, the party provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani and MPs Muhammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi condemned the undue action of police on protesters terming it unjust and uncalled for.
“All these protesting REKs are seeking their regularisation as they have completed their years of service in the sports department. They are seeking regularisation of their services as has been promised to them from time to time. Unfortunately, such genuine and justified demands by the ReK employees were met with lathi charge on the peaceful protesting employees. Even female employees were not spared. All were beaten mercilessly,” they said.
“Far from holding parleys with the protesting employees, the incumbent govt is trying to gag the voice of the employees, who are projecting their long pending demands in a democratic manner. Such measures are unknown in democratic societies. It is highly condemnable,” they added.
“On one hand the government is laying much emphasis on sports as a medium to counter depression and anxiety among youth. On the other hand, they are leaving no stone unturned to put ReKs under undue duress. This has to stop. It is expected that the administration will make a magnanimous reach out to the protesters in the best traditions of the country’s democratic values and address their genuine demands,” they said.
