Despite ESMA,J-K staff strike continues

The prolonged confrontation between Omar Abdullah government and its 4.5 lakh employees over the issue of Sixth Pay Commission arrears continued on Tuesday as lakhs of government employees stayed away from their offices defying the Essential Services Maintenance Act ESMA. They also threatened to launch an indefinite strike if the government didnt meet their demands by April 10.

If the government doesnt meet our demands,we will go on an indefinite strike, president of the Employees Joint Action Committee EJAC,Abdul Qayoom Wani said at a press conference in Srinagar. We may even involve those government departments that we have exempted in public interest.

In Jammu,work in all government offices came to a halt as employees went on strike for the fourth day,holding demonstrations at their office premises. The Civil Secretariat remained paralysed as the employees there too joined the strike.

At a rally at Khour,the Chief Minister appealed to the people to persuade employees living in their neighbourhood to return to work.