STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Over 20 employees were arrested today when a large number of food and allied workers, who are on continues strike for the last ten days in main food stores at Jammu and Srinagar, on Thursday took out protest rally.
In Jammu, rally was taken out from Press Club Jammu to Governor’s House which was thwarted by police personnel deployed at Dogra Chowk.
“The police force did not allow the workers to take out the rally, creating hurdles, imposing restrictions, which is the clear indication that the administration is bent on suppressing the workers,” President of Food and Allied Worker’s Union, Jammu and Kashmir, Bishan Dass said.
They demanded revision of bag rates as per price index, enhancement of MWG at par with FCI pattern, release of pending payments to Muffassil workers, release of monthly wages by 10th of each month, timely deposition of contributions deducted from workers on account of PF, ESI and LIC, provision of listman for city supply, grant of city supply lead charges and implementation of pension scheme.
They appealed to the Governor N.N Vohra to personally look into their grievances and issue necessary instructions for redressal of the same.
They also threatened to further intensify the agitation if the government does not consider their genuine demands.
In Kashmir, rally was to be taken out from Press Enclave, Srinagar where the same nature of restriction was imposed. Over 20 workers were arrested by the police.
“The workers shall fight seeking justice till they breathe their last,” protesters said.
