Srinagar, Mar 11: Apni Party’s Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir on Tuesday condemned the use of force against protesting daily wage workers, calling it an “unjust response” to their longstanding demands for wage release and regularisation.
Mir’s statement came after scores of daily wagers from the Jal Shakti (PHE) department, who have not received wages for over 85 months, were lathi-charged and detained by police during protests in Jammu and Srinagar on Monday.
“We have supported daily wagers from the very beginning, but they have continuously faced injustice from successive governments. Despite a court order directing action in their favour, the government has failed to respond,” Mir said.
The workers have threatened to intensify their protests, with plans to go on strike starting March 20 if their demands for regularisation and wage disbursement are not met.
Notably, the J&K Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Tuesday as members from various parties raised concerns over the treatment of protesting workers. Opposition members lashed out at the government’s failure to meet the demands of the workers, while CM Abdullah acknowledged the situation, calling for greater efforts to resolve the crisis.
The CM on Tuesday addressed the Assembly, expressing regret over the use of force against the workers. “The police should not have used force on them when they were fighting for their rights,” he said.
He announced the formation of a high-powered committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, to formulate a roadmap for the regularization of daily wagers and casual workers in the region.
The Apni Party leader also commented on the recent killings in Kathua, which have shocked the region. The bodies of three relatives—Yogesh Singh (32), Darshan Singh (40), and Varun Singh (14)—were found in a river in the Malhar area of Kathua district on March 8, days after they went missing. The deaths have sparked an outcry, with various theories circulating about the cause.
Mir described the killings as “tragic and inexcusable”, saying, “The killings in Kathua are tragic and should never have happened. I believe the government is actively handling the situation. Incidents like this are tarnishing the image of J&K and creating unnecessary fear among the people.”
“It seems like a coordinated effort between NC and BJP, which raises questions about the true motives behind such incidents. The people of J&K deserve clarity and accountability from the government,” he said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a thorough and transparent inquiry into the killings. “I have ordered a thorough and transparent investigation, and all the necessary support to the families will be provided,” the LG said in a post on X.
