Durbar opens in Jammu amid protests

Police foil employees, Students march to civil secretariat  

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 10: Amid protests by various organizations, Jammu and Kashmir government today resumed its work in Winter Capital of the state after opening of Durbar Move offices.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was given the traditional guard of honour on his arrival at the secretariat that houses the offices of the chief minister, his ministerial colleagues and all top bureaucrats of the state. This was the last guard of honour for the present government.

A contingent of Jammu and Kashmir Police presented Guard of honour to Omar Abdullah, while Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar escorted him.

Because of the Model Code of Conduct in force in the wake of the state assembly polls, the chief minister did not interact with the press as per the past traditions.

Continuance with over 140-year-old practice of erstwhile Maharajas of shifting capital in Jammu and Kashmir with change of seasons, offices including civil secretariat, state legislature and Raj Bhawan started their work in the winter capital here.

Meanwhile, in view of threat of protests, authorities had imposed prohibitory orders around the secretariat and heavy police deployment was made to deal with them.

More than hundred Voluntary Retirement Service (VRS) employees of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), today made the unsuccessful bid to Gherao Civil Secretariat after they were restricted by a strong contingent of police.

The retried employees assembled at Press Club and amid anti- government and pro-employees slogans tried to march towards the civil Secretariat, but they were thwarted by police before they could move ahead. Police forced the employees to disperse, leading to a ‘scuffle’ between the two sides. 

Talking to Greater Kashmir, VRS SRTC employees, president-Dev Raj Bali criticized the government for its failure to address the demands of the employees in stipulated time frame.

He said “VRS/GHS employees are struggling for their dues, i.e. Cost of living allowance (COLA), 16 installments wef 1.1.2006, 18 installments of 2007, 26 installments of 2008, 35 installments of 2009 and 31 installments upto April,” he added that a total of Rs.30,16,10,673, including leave salary, gratuity, ex-gratia grant and arrears since 1999 are pending.

While condemning the use of police force, Bali said that this protest was just to register their resentment against the state government, as model code of conduct is in force, no major decision could be taken.

Similarly, a large number of students under the banner of National Students' Union of India (NSUI)   staged a protest demonstration at press club and tried to march towards Civil Secretariat, in support of their demands.

Students of Government College of Engineering and Technology, Chak Bhalwal raised anti-government and anti-administration slogans, for their ‘failure’ in providing the basic amenities to the students on the campus.

Although, a good strength of students tried to march towards civil secretariat for its Gherao, but the attempt was foiled by extra deployment of police, who also resort to cane charging to disperse the agitating students.

Addressing the students, Ajay Kumar said that the college authorities as well as the state government have always given deaf ears to the woes of Jammu students, wherein their pleas remain ‘unheard’.  He said, “Despite being the oldest institute of the region, government’s apathetic approach has turned it into shambles, without any basic facility for the students.”