Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 27: Even as the two senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders Naeem Akhter and Khurshid Alam have said they were "humiliated" after being made to sit with junior level government employees at the Republic Day ceremony at SK stadium in Srinagar and left the celebrations in protest, their decision has stoked a controversy.
The people, including government employees and those on social media, have been saying that if it was "below dignity to sit with government servants", when both the leaders before joining politics were themselves also government servants.
"Why should someone leave the Republic Day function? Had they come to celebrate the Republic Day or to protest it," some senior officials were heard discussing soon after the duo left the venue.
Sources said some government employees including Tehsildars have decided to write a letter to the Raj Bhawan to seek an explanation from the duo if it was "below dignity" to sit with government servants.
"We'll ask the government if we are low caste citizens that sitting with us becomes a point of protest," said a delegation of government employees, who plan to sent a memorandum in this regard to Governor SP Malik.
"Respect for MLC is accepted and there shouldn't be compromise on that. But in a trouble torn region like Kashmir why to raise a hue and cry if made to sit among government servants," said some government servants.
Sources as the duo left the venue, some of those sitting around had asked if it as "below prestige to sit with common people."
"If we believe in equality why to make a racist kind of protest," the government servants said.
Pertinently, two PDP leaders, including former minister Naeem Akhtar and MLC Khurshid Alam were made to sit with government employees at the cricket stadium.
Both the legislators later left the venue in protest and confirmed the same to media.
Nayeem Akhtar told media that he belongs to Legislative Council, which is the only democratic institution currently functioning in the state. "I think I was number one there in the protocol but we were made to sit with Tehsildar's," Naeem Akhtar said.
His colleague Khurshid Alam said that he has boycotted the Republic Day function over the despicable behaviour of the administration."I have boycotted on my personal level and I will also boycott the function at Governors place as well", Alam said.
"I will make sure that action is initiated against the divisional administration over this behaviour," Alam had told media. |