Today as I headed towards my office, as usual, the CRPF men stopped me, told me that from today no office cards would be entertained as curfew passes, you go back from where you came, I had a heated argument with the police, after Kashmiri police men intervened, and told me to go back, they also warned me, not to move out at evening because no relaxation will be given from now on wards.
Government has threatened of taking measures to withheld the salaries of employees who are not attending their duties, is not it ironical, the authorities come and go under security cover in the government cab, how can they realize the problems of employees who are threatened both by stone pelters and police.
No vehicular traffic on the roads, and employees cannot take risk of taking out their private vehicles that are vulnerable to stones and lathis. Life doesn’t seem so easy for employees. Many employees have reported that their I – cards were snatched and their names written on the copy. We cannot wear formal dress due to which we get spotted easily. They say we cannot risk our lives, even local police feel fear of being targeted by protestors who are high on hatred with government employees and local police.
Many protestors when asked about it, their unanimous reply was that we are here dying and these employees go their offices is not justified and accepted. Government employees are caught between service and street, and face animosity, hatred and are more vulnerable to the stone pelters and the Indian Armed forces.
Employees demand government for protection of them and their families, transportation if they want us to reach the office, this would be even more dangerous and exposed. No doubt, work is worship, and we get salaries for that, but at the cost of our lives, who will bell the cat.
Yes, if given complete protection and transportation, is it possible for government employees to reach to their offices, they have to face the society, today or tomorrow security would be taken back, then does government take responsibility of death of any government employee, or if any untoward incident happens with them. It is easy to say then to do. Government should thick over the pros and cons of this, and about its deadly consequences.
The views presented in this article are the Author’s own, and does not in any way depict the views of the Newspaper. This is an Op Ed
Syed Abadi Hamdani
Freelance Writer
Writes on Social, Economical, Environmental Issues