Relief holders continue dharna

The dharna launched by all Kashmiri migrant relief holders at Jagti township for enhancement of cash relief entered 27th day today.

The protestors are demanding enhancement of relief to Rs 120 per soul per day. Addressing the protestors the representatives of relief holders said that they were expecting the decision in this regard will be announced in the Apex Committee meeting itself but still it is hanging in balance despite the fact that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself understands that the relief given to migrants at present is inadequate. 

The relief holders however criticized those Apex Committee members who boycotted the meeting. They demanded that these members be disbanded from Apex Committee. 

The organizers have decided to continue the dharna till the ongoing agitation reaches logical conclusion. They said the Kashmiri migrants will have no objection if the economic status of each family is ascertained.

Meanwhile the hunger strike launched by relief holders also continued in front of Relief Commissioner’s Office today and protestors warned to continue the strike till the demand is met. They said the relief holders will not be satisfied by mere assurances and the Government should take concrete steps regarding enhancement of cash assistance as the people totally dependent on cash doles from Government are hard pressed in these tough times when prices of essential commodities have touched sky.

Addressing the protestors Sheela Handoo ex corporator assured them all help from her organization. She urged the Government not to test the patience of relief holders and take a decision regarding hike in the cash assistance at an earliest

Shrine Board sets up 24x7 Helpline

water shortage in jammu

Force used to disperse protest march by employees

Dozen injured, 150 arrested in police action

Over a dozen government employees were injured in police action during a protest march here while over 150 others were arrested. Normal work in government offices was almost paralysed in view of the strike call given by Employees Joint Action  (EJAC) in support of its demand against non implementation  of an agreement signed by  its leaders with the state government.

After today’s tough government action, EJAC has announced to intensify its “struggle” and called for a strike again on May and  a strike and “gherao” of civil secretariat here on May 9.

This morning large number of  employees led by their leaders reached near Khalsa School and  took out a protest march  towards the divisional commissioner’s office to submit a memorandum.  The state government had deployed in strength the police and paramilitary forces.

The cops swung into action at Exhibition Crossing and Jehangir Chowk and resorted to lathi charge and used water cannon to disperse the protestors.

At least one dozen government employees got injured in the police action and dozens of them were detained. They included Khurshid Alam and  Abdul Qayoom Wani.

However, the agitated employees showed stiff resistance and crossed the temporary barricades erected by police. The employees were again intercepted by large contingent of police.

A number of employees managed to escape from the spot  and later resurfaced at Jehangir Chowk and Exhibition Crossing where they held protests. Cops again used water cannon and lathi charge to disperse them.

Later police blocked all roads for the employees and prevented them to assemble. Normal life came to stand still at Exhibition Crossing and Jehangir Chowk during the march and police action.

The shopskeepers were forced to close their shops after the colour water entered into their shops which was used by police against protesting employees to disperse them. The shopkeeper expressed displeasure over the excessive use of water cannons.

The employees’ leader, Abdul Qayoom Wani told Kashmir Times that EJAC leadership has condemned the police action  The EJAC president termed protest programme genuine since  the agreement was violated by government.

The employees leaders alleged that government’s delay in releasing the arrears have put their families in great trouble financially in this time of inflation.

.

The employees have been demanding 6th pay commission arrears in cash, regularization of daily wage workers, contractual workers, removal of the pay anomalies of the clerical staff, in cash payment to the retired employees and early settlement of their other arrears andg enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years.

Another employees union, EJAC Kashmir senior leaders Shabir Ahmad Langu, Ishtiyaq Beg, Sheikh Majid, Imtiyaz Khan and Nazir Ahmad Qadri told media persons that today’s strike call was a flop show. They gave a separate hunger strike call on May 7 for the implementation of six pay commission recommendations.

Workshop on financial management held

Eco Survey of Jammu Kashmir

Kam Chhor Hartal on Apr 17

Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) has appealed the State Government employees to observe complete ‘Kam Chhor Hartal’ on April 17, in support of the demands.

In a joint press conference held here today, senior trade union leaders and members JCC/ EJAC Ram Kumar Sharma, Rafiq Ahmed Khaniyari and Balwan Singh alleged that Government has been forcing the State employees to adopt path of confrontation. They said the Government has backed out from agreement of September 15, 2011 and earlier also. The delaying attitude of the Government in releasing Pay Commission arrears, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies etc has created strong resentment among the working class. 

They pointed out that despite repeated representations and memoranda submitted to the Government, no progress from the Government side has been witnessed. It shows the anti-worker stance of the Government. The employees are now left with only option to go on agitational path. They appealed the employees of the Government departments and PSUs to observe complete strike and hold protest demonstrations and dharnas at district and tehsil headquarters. In Jammu and Srinagar, large rallies will be taken out by the employees lodging protest against the Government. 

In Jammu the employees will assemble near Press Club/ Exhibition Ground at 11 am for the rally. They said the operational staff of the hospitals, PHE, PDD and JMC/ MCs etc has been exempted from the purview of strike.

ITI certificates on sale

Sonamarg Still Inaccessible

Jewellers call off strike

Bullion traders and jewellers today called off their 21-day nationwide strike after meeting UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who assured them that their demand for rollback of excise duty on unbranded jewellery would be considered.

"We have notified all our members to call off the agitation with immediate effect," Dinesh Jain, Director of Governing Board, All-India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, told.

Most of the jewellery shops would open from tomorrow, today being holiday on account of Good Friday.

Traders are estimated to have lost Rs 20,000 crore due to the strike which began on March 17 after presentation of the Budget on the previous day.

Jewellers, however, threatened that strike would resume again if the proposal to levy excise duty of one per cent is not withdrawn in the Finance Bill, which is expected to come up before Parliament early next month.

"The strike has been suspended till May 11, as the Finance Minister has assured us on a decision on rollback on excise duty and customs duty by first week of May," Jain said.

Delhi-based All India Sarafa Association general secretary Surendra Jain also said that their members have also agreed to suspend the strike.

Some of traders who met Mukherjee, said the Finance Minister has assured them that their grievances with regard to levy of 1 per cent excise duty on unbranded jewellery would be addressed.

Before traders met Gandhi, Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said the party has asked the Government to consider jewellers’ demand sympathetically.

Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) Chairman S K Goel said that Mukherjee has assured traders that he would address their concerns at the time of consideration of the Finance Bill 2012 in Parliament and "associations have agreed to withdraw the strike".

"We will decide on calling off strike... Industry lost nearly Rs 20,000 crore due to this strike and the Government lost nearly Rs 1,200 crore (in revenue)," All-India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation chairman Bachhraj Bamalwa said after meeting with the Finance Minister.

Meanwhile, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) Chairman Rajiv Jain welcomed the assurance given by the Finance Minister and appealed to all jewellers in the country to resume their day to day business operations as early as possible

"The Finance Minister also assured that the import duty imbalance for jewellery imported under Free Trade Agreement from Thailand and other issues faced by the gems and jewellery exporters due to recent announcements in the budget will be looked into," the GJEPC said in a statement.

On March 16, a day before jewellers began their strike, gold prices in the national capital were ruling at Rs 28,140 per ten grams. In Mumbai, gold rates stood Rs 27,760 per ten grams.

India, the world’s largest gold consumer, imported 967 tonnes of precious metal in 2011. Gold is the second biggest commodity imported after crude oil. 

Lawyers suspend strike in jammu

Jewellery shops remain shut on 20th consecutive day

Jewellery shops across the State remained closed for twentieth consecutive day on the call given by All India Sarafa Association, in protest against the Central Government’s decision to impose excise duty of 1 per cent on unbranded jewellery and 4 per cent import duty on gold.

Hundreds of Swarankars, under the banner of Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province (SSJP) held protest demonstration at Chowk Chabutra against the recently imposed excise duty on unbranded jewellery and import of gold.

Jewellers from Chowk Chabutra area and other parts of the city including Pacca Danga, Moti Bazaar, Purani Mandi, City Chowk, Kanak Mandi, Lakhdatta Bazaar, Peer Mitha, Link Road and Jain Bazaar participated in the protest along with their colleagues and raised slogans against the Central Government.

At Poonch, a rally was held under the presidentship of Raj Kumar Babber, President, Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province (SSJP), in which hundreds of jewellers of the district participated and expressed their anguish against the Central Government.

Amid slogans, Jewellers in the shape of a rally marched towards DC office and submitted memorandum to AK Sahu, DC Poonch, pertaining to their demands.

Talking to Jk News, Raj Kumar Babbar, President, SSJP, said that the Central Government was forcing them to adopt agitational path as the imposition of excise and import duty on gold was a serious issue and related to 10 lakh workers. He regretted that the Government was not paying any heed towards their genuine demands.

He said that they will come on roads, if the Central Government didn’t revoke the recently imposed taxes. He said that the jewellery shops across J&K will remain closed till the imposed excise and import duty were revoked.

"Nearly 1.50 lakh men were engaged in this profession and they would be rendered jobless due to mounting pressure of excise duty on unbranded jewellery and on import duty of gold", Babber said, adding that shooting prices of gold and excise duties are bound to recede the demands of jewelers thereby affecting the livelihood of small jewelers and retailers.

Among others, who joined the protest, included Kulbhushan Anand, president, Jammu city, SSJP, Parjan Anand, president, Sarafa Association, Ved Prakash Sethi, Chairman, SSJP, Ram Kapoor, general secretary, Rajinder Sehdev, cashier, Vijay Verma, vice president, Ashok Suri, joint secretary, Ashok Kumar Naggi, spokesman and Arun Sethi, vice president, Jammu city and other members viz jewellers of the State.

At Reasi, jewelers under the presidentship of Vijay Abrol, district president, took out a candle march in protest against the increase in the excise duty on gold. The jewellers were demanding immediate roll back in the recently imposed taxes.

Reports pouring in from other districts of the Jammu province including Doda, Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Kathua, Vijaypur, Rajouri Samba and Udhampur, revealed that the jewellery shops also remained closed there and all the Swarankars from these districts held protest against this move of the Central Government and demanded its immediate revocation.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Gold Dealers and Workers Association today observed one day hunger strike as their strike entered 20th day today to press for the rollback of the recent excise duty hike proposals which they fear will kill the legal business.

Scores of members of the Associationsat in protest at Hari Singh High Street since morning today while around a dozen of them were on hunger strike.

The gold shops and markets across Kashmir remained closed for 20 consecutive day today and traders continued protests against the budgetary proposals to raise duty on gold imports and levying excise duty on unbranded jewellery.

The president of the Association, Bashir Ahmad, said that for past several years the gold prices here gone up and affected the gold trade as common people can't afford it now.

The president of the Kashmir Chamber and Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Abdul Hamid Punjabi, expressed support on behalf of the chamber to them.

The chairman of Kashmir Economic Alliance, Mohammad Yasin Khan, along with the members of the Alliance today visited Hari Singh High Street and expressed support for the gold dealers.

No tobacco shops near schools

Liquor shops on Jammu Srinagar highway makes driving unsafe

Protesters stop Jammu bound trains at Kathua

BJP Kissan Morcha activists under the leadership of its State President Swaran Singh on Tuesday stopped two trains at Kathua in protest against fixation of less price for wheat this year. District President of Morcha Jaggar Singh, ex-President Prof Sain Dass Gupta, Dr Narinder Singh Jasrotia, Prem Nath Dogra, Gopal Mahajan and Babloo Sarpanch were prominent among others who participated in the protest.

 The protesters stopped the Jammu – Mumbai Sawraj Express (down) train and Amritsar – Jammu Tata Morie (up) trains at Kathua.  They said the government is hell bent to cause loses to them by fixing the rates of wheat at Rs 500 per quintal which is less than even the cost price of a farmer.

 Criticising the government, the speakers said that the farmers were not paid the agreed prices of rice last time due to which they suffered heavy loss, adding that on the one hand government makes tall claims of making efforts to boost the agriculture but on the other it is discouraging them from field activities in view of persistent losses.  They demanded implementation of Swami Nath Commission’s Report.

 Senior police officers including  Dy SP Daljit Singh, SHO Kathua B.S Manhas, Incharge Police Post Hatli Morh Niaz Ali and those of Railway Police from Jammu reached the spot and dispersed the protesters, thus restoring the rail traffic.

Moderate earthquake rocks Valley

Governor inaugurates Kashmir Festival at Pune

Governor CM greet people on Eid i Milad

Hurriyat calls for strike on Saturday

The Hurriyat conference (G) today called for general strike on April 7 against the sentencing of Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai.Dr Fai, the head of Kashmir American centre, has been sentenced to two year imprisonment by an American court for “lobbying for Pakistan intelligence agency ISI.”

 A Hurriyat (G) statement said a meeting of the Majlis-e-Shora was held under the chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani wherein the decision on the strike was taken.

 “The Shora discussed the sentence pronounced against Dr Fai and decided to call for a strike. We appeal the transporters, traders, employees and everyone to observe complete strike on the day to make the call a success,” the statement said.

 The Hurriyat (G) called Dr Fai an “ambassador of Kashmir” who was “conspired against by India.”

 “He was representing the people of Kashmir, but India used its influence to make US authorities act against him,” it said, and admired Dr Fai’s role and courage. “He has working for the people of Kashmir and for doing so he has been living in self-exile for past over two decades. We salute his courage for he did not lose heart even after the sentence was pronounced against him. It is time to tell the world that he is not alone,” it stated.

Sonia rejects Peerzada's resignation

Met predicts snowfall Feb 13 14

Aamir in Valley for Incredible India

Jewellers Continue strike

Jewellery shops across the State remained closed for the 18th consecutive day in protest against the Central Government for hike in import duty and excise duty on unbranded jewellery.

They have gone on strike ever since the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in his Budget proposed one per cent excise duty on unbranded jewellery and doubling the import duty to 4 per cent on gold.

Hundreds of Swarankars, under the banner of Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province (SSJP) held protest demonstration with empty utensils against the recently imposed excise duty on unbranded jewellery and import of gold.

Jewellers from Chowk Chabutra, Pacca Danga, Moti Bazaar, Purani Mandi, City Chowk, Kanak Mandi, Lakhdatta Bazaar. Peer Mitha, Link Road and Jain Bazaar participated in the protest and raised slogans against the Central Government.

"March is usually a lean period for jewellery business. However, this year there were important festivals like "Navratras" and Jewellers incurred huge loss during this period", Raj Kumar Babber, President, Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province said.

He said that dharnas in various parts of the state are going on and also spread to small towns as well adding that the strike will go on till the Government rolls back the taxes imposed.

"Imposition of excise duty on unbranded jewellery may lead to heavy paper work for small traders", Babber said, adding, that with jewellers on strike since March 17, gold imports are likely to witness a decline in the month.

Among others, who joined the protest, included Kulbhushan Anand, president, Jammu city, SSJP, Parjan Anand, president, Sarafa Association, Ved Prakash Sethi, Chairman, SSJP, Ram Kapoor, general secretary, Rajinder Sehdev, cashier, Vijay Verma, vice president, Ashok Suri, joint secretary, Ashok Kumar Naggi, spokesman and Arun Sethi, vice president, Jammu city and other members viz jewellers of the State.

Reports pouring in from other districts of the Jammu province including Reasi, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Samba, Rajouri and Udhampur, revealed that the jewellery shops also remained closed there and all the Swarankars from these districts held protest against this move of the Central Government and demanded its immediate revocation.

Finance Minister meets Governor ahead of budget session

Traffic suspended on highway to clear stranded vehicles

Hurra Ashtami celebrated in jammu

Industrial workers stage dharna

The Federation of Unions of Industrial Workers (FIUW) held a protest demonstration against prevailing red-tapism in the corridors of the State Government virtually jeopardizing the process of operationalizing the dysfunctional units in the State apparently in collaboration with Corporate houses and Management of Industrial units pulling strings from behind.

The industrial workers from Kathua, Bari-Brahmana, Jammu and construction workers from Udhampur joined the protest as solidarity with workers of Singer India Ltd (SIL).

Speaking on the occasion, president FIUW, Nirdosh Uppal, said that the State Government has rejected the permission to SIL, for its disclosure vide SRO 237 of 2005 and retrenchment of workers vide SRO 238 but the Government has shown non-seriousness for reopening the factory. The workers of SIL unit resisted under the platform FUIW as 300 workers and their dependents were arbitrarily deprived of their livelihood.

"The management of SIL approached the BIFR in 2005 with contention to declare the Unit as sick industry for getting the relieves and other concessions from the State Government and other related institutions. After BFIR announced Draft Rehabilitation Scheme (DRS) and prescribed various concessions, the management and workers approached to the Government for restoration of electricity and ignoring all other concessions prescribed in the DRS", he said adding since September 2011 HCM’s directions notwithstanding, files rotated for over seven months depriving 300 workers of their livelihood.

Uppal said the Federation has expressed grave concern over dilatory tactics being used by the State Government not to provide legally admissible relief and an attempt to keep dysfunctional to support needs and aspirations as well as a conspiracy to deny livelihood to hundreds of workers and their dependents.

Places to visit in kashmir

Hundreds of vehicles leave for Srinagar from Jammu

Media boycotts Assembly over Speakers statement

SRTC goes on 3 day strike

SRTC operations today came to a halt following the beginning of three day long strike by its employees.

The employees also held strong protest demonstrations at Press Enclave here in support of their demands. SRTC employees Union led by its chairman Shakeel Ahmad Kuchay held several rounds of talks in Jammu with financial commissioner Finance Iqbal Khanday and other senior government officers. During the meetings Kuchay demanded that the long pending demands of the SRTC employees be met without any further delay. “Government must look into our demands if it wants an end to our protests,” he told the officers.

The striking employees demand revival of SRTC on the lines of Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation, and the sixth pay commission for them.

SRTC employees started a protest march from SRTC yard at TRC and moved towards Press Colony, where they held demonstrations. They were being led by Mohammad Amin Dar. Carrying placards in their hands, they raised slogans against the state government.

Entire J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) fleet today went off the road as over 3000 employees of the Corporation today went on three day strike in the State.

The operation of all the buses including those plying on inter-state routes and the trucks remained stalled and all the depots across the State including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh and also at Pathankot remained non-functional. With the non-operation of a fleet of total 1016 vehicles, the Corporation will be losing a revenue of nearly ` 19 lakh per day with the ongoing strike. On many routes, additional private buses had to be pressed into service by the Administration to facilitate the passengers and especially Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims.

The employees of the Corporation in large number assembled in the office of General Manager SRTC near Bikram Chowk, Jammu this morning and staged massive protest demonstration. Later, they sat on day long dharna to mark their protest against the Government. Several employees leaders including Shakeel Ahmed Kuchay, chairman of the J&K State Road Transport Corporation Workers Union, Ashok Mehra, president and general secretary Paramjit Singh addressed the gathering.

While addressing gathering Mr Kuchay alleged that Government has failed to honour its commitment made with the Union. He alleged that Government failed to implement all the 20 points finalized during meeting with the Chief Secretary on December 3, 2009. Corporation employees were not given benefits of the 6th Pay Commission. Pending arrears of the workers were not paid. Even after the VRS of nearly 850 workers, no improvement was made and pending arrears paid. He claimed that with the VRS hardly 2910 employees are left with the Corporation while they engaged nearly 600 drivers on consolidated pay of ` 6000 per month recently.

Even the arrears of the VRS employees have not been paid in full.

Mr Mehra said that no meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation was convened in last 14 months while high level committee constituted by the Chief Minister about two years back appeared to be total fraud as no meeting has been held so far. This shows non- seriousness on the part of Government. He said if Government do not want to run SRTC, it should wind up the organization. Every time only false assurances are given and now the employees are fed up. He also demanded conversion of COLA into DA, announcement of pending DPC, regularization of Sports category employees and release of the salary of GHS employees.

General secretary, Paramjeet Singh disclosed that on the invitation of a Government today a meeting of some members of the union led by its chairman Mr Kuchay was held with the Principal Secretary Finance Iqbal Khanday in his office chamber this afternoon. Though Mr Khanday listened to the problems and demands of the SRTC workers but no immediate decision was taken. He said the strike programme would be continued and three day time has been given to the Government to decide about their fate. In next course of action, they may intensify struggle.

In Srinagar, SRTC employees from all the districts assembled at Corporation headquarters at Maulana Azad Road and held massive protest demonstration in support of their demands. Later, they took out a protest rally which culminated peacefully at Press Enclave. The protesters were raising high pitched slogans projecting their demands.

They demanded that Government should implement Transport Act, 1950 fully and SRTC should be allowed to function on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation. They also demanded 6th Pay Commission benefits in favour of Corporation workers.

Prominent among those leading the protest rally included Mohd Amin Dar, provincial president, Kashmir, Wajahat Hussain secretary and Mohd Ashraf. 

Geelani calls for strike on Feb 7

Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, today called for strike on protest on February 3 and valley wide shutdown on February 7 against the shifting of detainees to jails outside.

“The shifting of the detainees is a practice is pure vengeance and it is done just to harass the people of Kashmir. We cannot sit silent, therefore, strike shall be held on February 7 and before that the protest shall be staged on February 3,” Geelani said in a statement.

Lashing out at the authorities for the move, he said it is violation of the Supreme Court norms.“According to the Supreme Court ruling the prisoners are to be kept in the jails closest to their residence so that they could meet their kin. But here the rules are violated to harass people,” he said.The separatist leader said the strike was postponed to allow people participate in the Eid-i-Milad celebrations.

3 day strike by Employees

Normal work in government offices was paralysed across the state as over four lakh government employees began three-day pen down strike.

Five employees leaders were arrested at Nowhatta when they were (taking stock of their strike in offices) evaluating the success of their strike by visiting different offices.

While in Jammu region too, the employees preferred to abstain from the work and staged demonstrations at various offices.

The state wide strike has been called by Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of various employees’ organizations.

Among other demands, the employees have been demanding release of 6th Pay Commission arrears in two installments. 

The essential services including emergency services in hospitals and examinations had been exempted from the strike. 

Khursheed Alam, leader of the government employees, said there was cent percent response to the strike call in all three regions, claiming that no employee turned up for work.

“There was a total response to the strike called by the JCC,” said Alam, who also heads a faction of employees union, EJAC (K).

He said that five employees leaders were arrested and condemned the government action as unwarranted.

“We were hopeful that the government would resolve issues facing the employees amicably as was evident during second round of talks with the chief secretary yesterday. However, the arrest of the employees is in total contravention to the atmosphere created during the meeting,” Khurshid said, adding, “The employees will not bow down under any coercion or power propelled measures.”

He reiterated that there would be complete pen down strike tomorrow as well. He hoped that “Srinagar (Secretariat) chalo” call on September 8 too would be a success. 

The JCC demands release of arrears in two installments at par with the central government employees and rejects the roadmap by the state government which offers to release the payments in several installments.

The apex body of employees also demands that the government should declare the clear-cut policy for regularization of daily rated workers who have completed 7-years of service after 1994. It also demands orders of regularization in favour of adhoc and contractual employees and enhancement of retirement age from present 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies in different cadres.

Besides it demands that the government should settle the grievances of public sector employees, Rehbar-e-Taleem, Anganwari workers, regularization of promotion of difference cadres and also implement DA order in favour of PSU employees.      

So far government held two rounds of talks with the JCC but it failed to break the ice.

Apart from this, Cabinet-Sub Committee with Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather in chair, discussed various issues pertaining to the employees’ demands. 

JAMMU: In Jammu province also, the first day of the three day call of “Kaam Chodo Hartal”, given by the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), evoked an overwhelming response today as the work in almost all government offices remained paralyzed. The employees preferred to abstain from the work and staged demonstrations at various offices in the Jammu region.

As a result the government offices generally wore a deserted look.  Some offices, however, observed thin attendance.

In Jammu city, the main protest demonstration was held at GGM Science College, where a large number of employees staged protest in support of their long pending demands which have already been agreed upon by the government yet not implemented. The employees were raising slogans against the government for its delaying tactics and breach of the agreement. 

Apart from Science College, protest demonstrations were also held at Agriculture complex, Irrigation complex, Municipality complex, DC office. The nursing staff in the SMGS Hospital Shalamar and clerical staff in the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H) also supported the call given by the JCC. However, the essential services like the health, power and water were exempted from the strike in larger interest of the public.

Senior JCC leader Ram Kumar Sharma maintained that the response of the employees to the call given by JCC was encouraging from Udhampur, Reasi, Kathua, Samba, Ramban, Kalakote, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar.

While talking to `Kashmir Times’, Sharma told, “We had a meeting with the Finance Minister AR Rather on September 3 in Srinagar. In the meeting, Rather admitted that there were some discrepancies in the road map given by the government and he asked us to air our view point on our issues. Minister’s response was - We want to resolve issues of the employees but it takes time. I can not take decision on my own. The decision is to be taken by the cabinet sub committee.” Sharma further told that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere but without any decision on the demands of the employees.

Senior JCC leader, however maintained that the Finance Minister had assured them that very soon he would call a meeting of the cabinet sub committee and the representatives of the employees would be invited. The JCC’s call was also supported by Lecturers’ Forum, SFC and some other organizations. The senior JCC leaders also stated that those who were opposing the strike at the behest of some agencies had now become quiet.