UP govt employees continue protest against quota in promotions

"Nearly 18 lakh employees and officers of various departments and corporations are participating in the strike to protest against Constitutional amendment bill for reservation in promotions," said Shailendra Dubey, president of Sarvjan Hitay Samiti which is spearheading the protests.

He claimed that government work remained paralysed across the state and the offices remained deserted.

In capital Lucknow, anti-quota employees took out procession under the banner of the Samiti and staged demonstrations in front of Congress and BJP offices.

The demonstrators also indulged in minor stone pelting at UPPCC office and damaged hoardings.

"The Samiti warns that if the anti-national bill is passed forcibly in the Rajya Sabha then the political parties will have to face serious consequences," Dubey said.

Dubey said they have sent SMSes and e-mails to Rajya Sabha MPs urging them not to get the constitutional amendment bill passed in the Upper House.

He said in case a political party does not issue notice to its members to vote in favour of the bill, they should vote as per their conscience.

Meanwhile to counter the effects of anti-qouta strike, the pro-reservation employees worked for additional hours and staged a dharna seeking passage of the bill.

"Nearly 10 lakh employees worked for extra hours since 8 am in the morning due to which the strike turned out to be flop," Arakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti leader Awadhesh Verma said.

The pro-reservation staff also staged dharnas at different offices to protest against strike by anti-reservation employees, Verma said, adding that their agitation will continue till the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha.

"The Samiti is closely watching the situation and final decision will be taken after the outcome of debate in the Upper House," he said.