SRINAGAR, February 4: The electoral process in the Kashmir valley suffered a set-back when 16 unions and federations of state government employees decided to "keep away" from the process for security reasons.In a joint statement after an extraordinary meeting here today, the leaders of 16 unions and federations of government employees said that it would not be possible for government employees to discharge election duties under the present circumstances in the valley. The statement said it was unanimously resolved that the situation in the state, particularly in the valley, is dangerous.
It said that employees who are being asked to perform election duties enjoy absolutely no security cover, while political leaders and top government officials are enjoying "physical as well as financial" security. "How can employees under such circumstances take risk, which is more likely to consume their lives," the statement asked.
It further said that the government while declaring Kashmir as disturbed area, admitsunmistakably that the situation is dangerous. The leaders said it is therefore neither just nor sensible to throw the poor employees into the "frying pan" of electoral duty. The union representatives of government employees, therefore have taken the unanimous decision to "keep away" from the electoral process, the statement added.
Chief secretary Ashok Kumar Jaitly had announced recently that government employees in the state, including Kashmir valley, will perform election duty this time.
He declared that no employees will be brought from outside the state as was done during previous Parliament and State Assembly elections in the state. Hundreds of employees from UP, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi performed election duty in the Valley after local employees stayed away from the poll process.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
