AP govt employees in Telangana on relay hunger strike

The Andhra Pradesh government employees in Telangana region today undertook a relay hunger strike here in support of the statehood demand.

The fast held at the Indira Park here was attended by members of Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers Association, Telangana Gazetted Officers Association and other employees unions.

Speaking on the occasion, leaders of Telangana staff unions hit out at the state government for invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) for prohibiting strikes in the various finance-related services.

The Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee has already served a notice to the government that it would launch an indefinite general strike from August 17 primarily in support of the demand for creation of a separate state.

It has also submitted a charter of demands that include appointing a judicial commission to look into irregularities in appointments and deputations in violation of zonal regulations.

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet sub-committee on employees yesterday decided to invite the Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee (JAC) for talks on August five to resolve their pending grievances and avert a strike.

"On the one hand, the government has invited us for talks tomorrow. On the other hand, the government has invoked ESMA. Telangana people are observing this double standards," K Swamy Goud, a leader of Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers association, said.