Opposition leaders today slammed the J&K government for barring its employees against resorting to any strike and demonstrations.
The J&K government yesterday invoked Rule 20(ii) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971, which states that no government employee shall resort to or in any way abet any form of strike in connection with any matter pertaining to his service or the service of any other government employee. The order has come amid reports that some employee unions were planning to hold agitation.
Reacting to the government’s order, PDP chief, Mehbooba Mufti, said; “LG admin’s blanket ban on peaceful protests by government employees reeks of a dictatorial mindset. Stifling voices of reason in a democracy is unacceptable. Threatening them with dire consequences & disciplinary action is outrageous”.
Former MLA and CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said; “The order contravenes the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions to which India is a party. Government employees only stage demonstrations and rallies when their legitimate and just demands are not fulfilled. The directive is yet another assault on the employees’ and workers’ constitutional rights”.
Congress senior vice-president, Ravinder Sharma said, “The administration under the central government wants to crush every voice of dissent, which is very dangerous, anti-employees and anti-people.” He said the employees have a fundamental right to protest against the failure of the administration to address their genuine issues. “The Congress fully defends and supports the democratic and fundamental rights of every citizen, including the employees, and demands immediate withdrawal of the order”.
National Conference provincial secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmad said the order makes it clear that nobody is allowed to speak in Jammu and Kashmir.
