Strike of JK govt employees continues for 2nd day

The strike of Jammu and Kashmir government employees continued for the second consecutive day today amid demonstrations against the state government for its "failure" to fulfil their demands.
The employees under the banner of Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), which represents over 4.5 lakh employees, is demanding enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, regularisation of daily wagers, adhoc and contractual appointees working in different government departments, besides removal of pay anomalies.
The striking employees held protests at various places across the city and raised slogans against the government.
They also warned that if their demands are not met the stir would be intensified.

"If the government fails to implement the agreement inked with the employees on September 15, 2011, JCC will intensify the agitation," senior JCC leader Mohammad Gafoor Dar said.
"The top brass of JCC is meeting on June 24 in Srinagar to decide further course of action. We are also trying to bring in the friendly trade unions which are still out of our campaign. We are hopeful that they will also join us and strengthen the movement," Dar added.

Meanwhile in Srinagar, police today resorted to force to stop the employees trying to organise a protest march towards Raj Bhavan.

More than a dozen employees were detained by police but nobody was injured, official sources said.
The workers, under the aegis of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), assembled at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park here and tried to march towards Raj Bhavan, they said.
The protesters were stopped near Tourism Reception Centre by the police, who asked them to disperse peacefully.
They, however, refused to pay heed and continued to march ahead, forcing the police to resort to lathicharge and use water cannons, the sources said.
The call for march to Governor's House was given by EJAC to press for their demands.

EJAC president, Qayoom Wani said the protests against government will continue till their demands are met.
"Our fight will continue till our demands are met," he said.