Srinagar, Feb 18: The Jammu & Kashmir Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) on Wednesday strongly rejected attempts to portray daily wagers’ ongoing protests as politically motivated, asserting that their struggle is purely a fight for survival, dignity, and justice.
Responding to the recent remarks of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, EJAC UT General Secretary Sajad Ahmad Parray said that EJAC is the representative and collective voice of nearly 4.5 lakh employees, including daily wagers and pensioners, and is a completely non-political platform.
“EJAC is the voice of employees, not a worker or slave of any political party. Our past and present leadership have always stood for the rights and dignity of employees. It is unfortunate that genuine and long-pending issues are being given a political colour,” he said.
Parray said that daily wagers have not taken to the streets for the first time. Under the banner of EJAC, employees have held peaceful protests, strikes, and hunger strikes during successive governments for the implementation of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Pay Commissions, release of arrears, enhancement of retirement age, and regularisation of daily wagers. However, instead of resolving these genuine issues, successive regimes have often resorted to blame-shifting, he added.
He pointed out that in different political periods, including elected governments and administrative regimes, similar allegations were made against protesting employees. “Even today, instead of addressing the genuine grievances of daily wagers, their struggle is being maligned, which is highly unfortunate and unjust,” he added.
Highlighting the harsh realities faced by daily wagers, Parray questioned how a worker earning a meagre ₹9,000 per month could sustain his family amid rising inflation. “Managing household expenses, electricity bills under smart metering, medical treatment of elderly parents, and bearing the cost of life-threatening diseases like cancer and dialysis is extremely difficult. If employees raise their voice under such circumstances, how can it be termed political?” he asked.
He said linking the cries of economically distressed employees to politics is unfair and warned that such statements hurt the sentiments of lakhs of employees, daily wagers, and pensioners, affecting nearly 8 lakh families and around 40 lakh people dependent on them.
Parray, however, welcomed the Chief Minister’s statement expressing willingness to resolve the issue through dialogue and expressed hope that the government would show sincerity and compassion in addressing this long-pending humanitarian issue.
“We are hopeful that through constructive dialogue, the government will resolve the issue of daily wagers once and for all and restore dignity and justice to thousands of struggling families,” he said.
The EJAC reiterated its commitment to continue its peaceful and democratic struggle until the genuine demands of employees and daily wagers are addressed in letter and spirit.
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