PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Following the apology from BJP MLA from Raipur assembly constituency Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’ the State Joint Federation of Employees has suspended its protest. However, the federation has warned that if any legal action is taken against the teachers or employees on the complaint filed by the MLA, the agitation will be resumed. The teachers and different employee associations of the State are on the path of the agitation ever since a group of people led by Raipur MLA allegedly assaulted the Primary Education director Ajay Kumar Naudiyal in his office on February 21.
Under the agitation the employees were boycotting their work. Apart from safety at work place the employees were demanding public apology from the BJP MLA. Following the demand, the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered the State administration to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) for ensuring security of the government offices and employees in the State. The CM assured the employees that the State government is serious on the issue of safety and respecting the dignity of the employees.
On Wednesday, the BJP MLA Umesh Sharma convened a press conference in which he said that he has been representing Raipur assembly constituency for many years. He said that on the day of the incident, he had gone to the directorate of Education for some work and during that time, an argument arose, leading to the unfortunate incident. He expressed regret for the incident and urged the various associations in the Education department to halt their ongoing protest, emphasising that the studies of students in the State are being affected.
Following the apology the federation of the employees suspended its agitation. According to Sanjay Bhaskar, the media in-charge of the federation, said although Sharma has apologised, he has yet to withdraw the case he previously registered against some teachers and officials related to this incident. Bhaskar said that they understand this is a technical matter and it takes time to withdraw the said case. He further added that if any action is taken against teachers or others regarding the registered case, the federation will immediately resume its protest.
