STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: After virtually remaining in silent mode for four months, the PDP-BJP coalition government is reverting back to action with Durbar Move offices re-opening in the winter capital today, amid tight security.
The capital city has been made-up for the occasion with BJP ministers working extra-time to monitor the up-keep of city roads, especially those leading to Civil Secretariat and other move offices besides employees’ colonies, and other services to facilitate smooth functioning of the government machinery. On the contrary, the National Conference has swapped its role with the BJP, as its cadre is holding a protest rally, being taken out from the party headquarters in Residency Road upto the Secretariat.
Most of the move officials, who were seldom reporting for duties in the summer capital, due to Kashmir unrest, are enthused to have routine after a pretty long time.
“It will indeed be a new-and of course pleasant- experience to get accustomed to office timings once again,” said a Srinagar based GAD employee, on the condition of anonymity, while recalling the horror of facing aggressive crowds whenever he ventured to proceed to Secretariat in the summer capital since July 9, the day violence broke out spontaneously in the wake of the killing of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist.
The PDP-BJP government has softened its attitude towards the employees with shelving the list of 173 officials, who were likely to be dismissed from services for dereliction of duties and perpetrating the street violence, overtly or covertly. Otherwise also, the employees on the ‘hit-list’ too had taken the government maneuvers with contempt, knowing well that one day it will yield as part of usual appeasement policy.
As part of the pre-independence biannual Darbar Move practice, the moving offices will start functioning from here on Monday after closing in Srinagar on October 27.
The opening of offices will be marked by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti given Guard of Honour by a contingent of J&K Police at Civil Secretariat complex. STATE TIMES correspondent adds, even though various State Government agencies have made elaborate arrangements ahead of shifting of the civil secretariat and Darbar Move offices here in the winter capital but the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti may face bumpy ride before reaching her office amid protest calls on Monday.
Opposition parties and various employees associations are set to hold protest demonstrations.
Congress Party activists too would organize a Secretariat march in protest against the failure of the PDP-BJP on all fronts.
In a statement, PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that senior leadership and senior functionaries of the party would take out a protest march from Congress headquarters Shahidi Chowk towards Civil Secretariat and court arrests in protest against the total failure of the Coalition Govt. on all fronts and fulfill the promises made to the different sections of the society. A meeting of PCC was held here on Sunday under the chairmanship of PCC president GA Mir, in which the detailed programme was chalked out in this regard. The meeting devised strategy to corner and expose the PDP-BJP combined for failure on various fronts, as a result different section of the society are suffering, especially worrisome situation all along border and LoC, sky- rocketing price-rise of essentials commodities, failure to fulfill the major commitments by the BJP & PDP towards borders residents, refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971, the neglect of farmers, unemployed youth including the daily wagers/ casual and need based in various departments, issues of ration, kerosene oil, failure to provide adequate relief to the rain and flood effected, neglect of ex-servicemen and martyrs, the closure of schools and issues of employees including irrational transfers, favoritism, nepotism, corruption and rise in militancy and over failure to control the situation and restore peace in the State.
The senior party leaders led by PCC chief and other senior functionaries would lead the peaceful march and offer for arrest to draw the attention of the public towards the failure of State and Centre Govt. The leaders of PCC, legislators, former Ministers, district presidents and leaders of frontal organization would participate in the march.
