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| Pahalgam Municipal employees' continue strike | | Immolation bid foiled | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Pahalgam, May 22: The striking employees of disbanded Pahalgam Municipality foiled an immolation bid by a fellow employee on the second day of their strike Friday. The government disbanded 73-year-old Municipality of Pahalgam a few days ago triggering protests by the employees.
Eyewitness said an employee tried to set himself ablaze when hundreds of employees gathered on Pahalgam-Chandanwari road to protest against the decision-which they term as unconstitutional.
"The employee put himself on fire but other employees present on the road foiled his attempt," said, Mohammad Aarif, a local resident. Protesting Municipal employees also blocked Pahalgam-Chandanwari road causing inconvenience tourists and passengers. Many tourist vehicles were spotted stranded on the road for hours together; however police later managed to disperse agitated employees peacefully.
Led by Municipal Employee's union president, Mehraj Ahmad Lone, employees again assembled and staged a forceful protest demonstration against the government inside the premises of municipal committee office and demanded roll back of the decision.
"The decision of government to abolish the two municipal committees is unconstitutional and undemocratic. We will fight till government revokes the decision," Mehraj said while addressing the employees earlier in the day.
Raising high pitched slogans against Mufti-led collation government, employees termed the decision of abolishing municipal committee asanti-people and anti-Pahalgam. "On one hand government claims to keep Pahalgam neat and clean but on the other hand they shut the municipal committee which has kept Pahalgam clean since 1942," said agitated employees.
With the strike of Municipal employees piles of garbage have started coming up along the roads side, particularly in Laroo village of Pahalgam. "Uncleaned roads, lanes, drains and parks have started irking locals as well as tourists," a tourism officer told Early Times, pleading anonymity.
He said that if employees continued their strike for more than three days situation will turn ugly.
Local social activist, Mushtaq Pahalgami who also head coalition of Unions (COU) in Pahalgam termed government's decision. "Decision of shutting Municipal committee is totally against the interests of Pahalgam residents. This decision will not only affect employees but will also deprive the locals of their democratic rights," said Mushtaq while urging government to revoke the order issued earlier.
He said that the ongoing tussle between the employees and government will also affect the tourism season which has started a few days ago.
"Employees are on strike and there is no other government agency which can take up sanitation works in Pahalgam so government must end this stalemate as early possible," he added.
Locals as well tourism stake holders too expressed anguish over the government decision saying privatization of sanitation will no longer help in keeping Pahalgam neat and clean.
Pertinently, government on Tuesday ordered the abolition of two oldest Municipal Committees under SRO 149 vide No. HUDA/LSG/ ULBK/117/2015 However, the KLBEU has strongly opposed the decision of the government and announced to go on an indefinite strike by May 21. The municipal union body has set a five-day deadline for revocation of the order. |
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