The Uttarakhand general and OBC employees association would intensify its strike from Thursday by bringing the essential services in the ambit of the strike. On Wednesday, hectic parleys between the office bearers of the general and OBC association and different employees organisations took place to discuss the modalities of the strike.
The general secretary of the association, Virendra Singh Gusain told The Pioneer that 60- 70 percent of essential services would cease to operate from Thursday. On the appeal of chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat in which he has requested the employees to take back their strike in the interest of the state, Gusain said that time of appeal has ended and the chief minister should take a decision on the issue.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the association constituted committees for monitoring and inculcating enthusiasm among the employees in different districts. On single point demand of implementing the order of Supreme Court (SC), the general and OBC employees are on strike from March 2.
It is pertinent to mention here that the SC on February 7 while hearing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) of Uttarakhand government had said that the states are not bound to provide reservation in promotions and reservation is not a fundamental right.
The SLP was filed by the Uttarakhand government against the Uttarakhand High Court (HC) order in Gyanchand Vs state case. This order has brought a sharp schism among the employees on caste lines. The general and OBC employees want that there should be no reservation in promotion while the SC and ST want that the benefit of reservation should be extended to them in promotions also.