JAMMU: Former Minister J&K and senior Congress leader Yogesh Sawhney on Sunday gave a strong reaction against the UT government for ignoring the demands raised by employees of the PDD department during the ongoing protests.
He said that he extended his complete support to the peaceful and democratic protest of the employees and their demands and strongly condemned the UT government for neglecting their genuine concerns. ‘Every section in Jammu and Kashmir is utterly unhappy with the government.
Employees have been on an agitation for two days and yet rather than addressing their grievances, they’re being threatened with termination. Their demands are genuine and should be taken very seriously so as to provide them relief in the issue of salaries and benefits.”, said Sawhney.
Criticizing the government, the former Minister said that this is the difference between a centrally governed territory and a state government. People have no one to take care of them.
They have clearly listed their demands again and again and have boycotted their work unless they are accepted. The government should immediately intervene and provide relief to the Power employees in regards with their employment issue and salary issue. The negligence of the BJP government is causing great unrest among people. Power is out in several parts of Jammu due to the inaction of the government and their refusal to do the needful.
Sawhney also criticised the government’s discreet attempts to pressure the Power employees into submission of their protest through threats of termination. He said that more than thousand employees are sitting outside in protest against the government and if the government takes any action against any one of them, it would escalate the situation instead of resolving it.
The government should not excercise their power in a way that threatens people’s livelihood and incomes. PDD employees are troubled with the current system of how they procure their salaries. They have to go to the Secretariat to beg for their hard earned income. As per their requests, this two year old experimental process should be ended immediately, said Sawhney.
He further added that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have no platform and government to put their trust in. This is the consequence of snatching statehood from J&K. Their is no dedicated organization who is looking over the governance, administrative and other issues here. Where do people go? He also shamed the government for their selfish attitude towards the people. They have created a ruckus in J&K and so many issues are shoved under the rug unresolved and no attention is paid to the genuine concerns of the public. We urge the UT government to immediately initiate talks with the PDD employees and accept their genuine demands regarding salary and other pertinent issues.