Babus may have misled LG Sinha, a BJP leader told the protesting staff | Jobs Vox

SRINAGAR: Bharatiya Janata Party Jammu and Kashmir President Ravinder Raina on Friday said the party would not allow Kashmiri Pandits, Dogras and other categories of workers posted in Kashmir to be made “sacrificial lambs”. These workers, who have left their jobs since May 12, are protesting in Jammu and want their relocation outside Kashmir.

Addressing the protesting workers, Raina said that Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha’s recent statement against these workers may have been made because the Babus (Administrative Officers) in Kashmir were not presenting the real situation.

LG Sinha said earlier this week that the migrant, reserved category and other staff posted in Kashmir from Jammu will not be paid if they stay at home.

The announcement drew criticism from these cadres who protested outside the BJP headquarters in Jammu on Thursday that the LG was appointed by the party-led central government in Delhi.

Reaching out to protesters seeking eviction from the Kashmir Valley, Raina urged LG Sinha to invite these workers and “at least” hear their stories.

He said that two BJP national general secretaries would meet the protesting workers tomorrow. “We have spoken to Delhi and are ready to take a representation of these workers directly to Delhi if required.”

After the killing of Rajni Bala, many Dogras, mostly SCs and cadres of Kashmiri Pandits returned to Jammu. Bala, a resident of Samba district, was shot dead at a school in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on May 31.

After the killing of colleague Rahul Bhat on May 12, the Prime Minister’s portfolio workers, who have been on strike in the Valley for the past seven months, staged protests and intensified the agitation.

Bhat, a clerk, was shot dead inside the Tehsildar’s office in Chadoora tehsil of Budgam district.

According to media reports, these two categories of workers, who number around 10,000, have been out of work since May, affecting the government’s results in Kashmir. At first they were paid – while protesting. However, LG Sinha said that they will not get any salary as they are sitting at home.