Employees threaten stir as impasse enters 48th day

Imphal, June 6 (UNI) The Manipur government employees today to threatened a violent agitation if the government failed to concede their demands.

The Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Government Employees' Organisation and All Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) have launched the agitation demanding a hike in pay and rectification of pay anomalies.

The JAC has also demanded that the retirement age be fixed at 60 years instead of 58. It also demanded regularization of adhoc employees.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had appealed to all the state government employees to call off the strike in the interest of the people.

Mr Singh said the employees had been demanding 71 per cent DA enjoyed by the Central Government employees while they were given 59 per cent. But if the State Government concedes the demands of the employees it would cost the exchequer an additional Rs 6.90 crores every month ,he added.

Three JAC leaders were arrested by the government and have not been released yet.

The JAC said it would not talk with the government until the leaders were released unconditionally.

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