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| Hartals, strikes, slogan shouting everywhere in J&K | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Apr 22
The State is in for an era of strikes, hartals and slogan shouting groups of political activists torching effigies of politicians on one issue or the other.
It all started with the prolonged strike of the employees of SRTC which kept the entire fleet of buses and trucks off the road for several weeks. They were demanding release of wages which had not been paid to them for the last four months. The Government suffered heavy losses and ultimately the strike was called off after the authorities agreed to release their wages.
It was followed by the pen down strike by the employees of clerical cadre. They have been demanding removal of pay anomalies and opening of promotion channels. As a result of the strike files in various Government offices have stopped moving from one table to the other.
The slogan of the PDP patron, Mufti Mohd.Sayeed, in favour of dual currency and dual control on Kashmir triggered series of protest demonstrations. The demonstrators torched his effigies. Many among his opponents demanded that the Mufti be tried on charge of sedition. Along with this the pre-poll campaign seemed to have achieved heat with the National Conference directing its guns straight against the PDP leadership. The NC patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has gone to the extent of describing the Mufti as the biggest “Saudagar” of Kashmir.
One has witnessed strike by private passenger transporters for a day demanding hike in the far following rise in the prices of petrol and diesel. The transporters have threatened to go in on an indefinite strike in case their demand was not conceded. Even a day’s strike caused innumerable hardships to the people in Jammu. The student community was the worst hit. People looking after their ailing patients could not shuttle between their places and the hospitals.
Jammu witnessed strike by the retailers in protest against the price fixed by the Government on fruit and vegetables. At times Jammu has witnessed strike by employee’s departmental wise. Two months ago employees of the Estates Department had gone on indefinite strike. What seems to have intrigued people is that the Government does not take prompt action either in conceding the genuine demands of those on strikes or in forcing the striking employees to resume their duties. Vegetable and fruit vendors have started sticking to the rates fixed by the Government. Till three days ago three bananas could be purchased for Rs.10 but now people have to pay Rs.15 for seven bananas as the stuff is to be sold in kilograms and not in dozens. |
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