Thaindian News

Jammu, April 13 (IANS) Bringing some relief to the state machinery, a section of the Jammu and Kashmir government employees Tuesday called off their strike on an assurance by the state government that their demands would be met in three months.
Secretariat Employees Union president Nazir Ahmad Tuesday evening said that 4,000 employees of the secretariat have called off their strike with immediate effect.

“The government has assured us that our demands would be met within three months, and we believe that it is a genuine promise,” Ahmad said at a press conference at the residence of Devender Rana, political advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Ahmad said that in view of the difficulties faced by the people, they were calling off the strike.

“We do hope that our action will enable the government to get arrears due to the employees and also meet other demands,” the employees leader said.

Although the secretariat employees constitute a miniscule section of the employees in the state, their withdrawal of strike means that the nerve centre of the government becomes functional again.

As many as 450,000 government employees are on strike in the state since April 3. The striking employees have been demanding payment of arrears of their hiked salaries as recommended by the sixth Pay Commission and enhancement of retirement age from the present 58 to 60 years.

Meanwhile, other employees continued their strike.