Migrant teachers hold anti-govt protest, threaten mass

A group of migrant teachers today staged a demonstration and threatened "mass resignations", a day after they were asked to rejoin their duties in Kashmir within a week.
They warned that all employees along with their families wouldhit the streets of Srinagar and stage day night 'dharna' (sit-in) topress for their demands.
The employees staged the protest outside relief and rehabilitation commissioner's office at Canal Road in the heart of wintercapital under the banner of All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC).
The state government yesterday had asked migrant employees, who leftKashmir in 2016 due to prolonged unrest following the killing of HizbulMujahideen commander Burhan Wani, to report to Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) within a week's time. On failure to do so, the authorities have threatened to take disciplinary action.

"The employees protested against the unilateral decision of the DSEK without giving any security guarantee even as the APMCC had recently written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti seeking guarantee of security and safety before asking the employees to return," a spokesman of the APMCC said.
Criticising the Director School Education Kashmir for his order,he claimed that Mehbooba has assured them that they would not be forced to join till their security concerns are addressed.

He also accused the local administration of running a "parallel government" in Kashmir.
The protesters have asked the relief commissioner to communicate their concerns to the concerned authorities, threatening mass resignations and street protest against the "biased attitude" of the valley administration towards these "victims of terror".

A notification issued by Director School Education Kashmiryesterday said: "Such migrant employees who have left the valley and are away from their respective places of work are advised to report to the Directorate of School Education Kashmir, Srinagar within a week's time from the date of publication of this notice failing which appropriate disciplinary action shall be initiated without further notice".
The Directorate has also asked the Chief Education Officers of all districts in Kashmir Valley to submit the list of such employeeswithin two days so that appropriate action could be initiated against theoffenders.