J&K DDC members call off stir after L-G gives word

Following lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha’s assurance, the newly elected district development council (DDC) members called off their agitation here on Wednesday

Following lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha’s assurance, the newly elected district development council (DDC) members called off their agitation here on Wednesday.

L-G Manoj Sinha had to cancel his inaugural session at a two-day training programme in Jammu. (PTI)

They were protesting for better status in the warrant of precedence and a dignified monthly honorarium.

J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina said the DDC members’ demands will be heard and addressed by the L-G on Friday.

The DDC members had on Tuesday boycotted a two-day training programme here and staged a protest in support of their demand for better status and monthly honorarium.

Consequently, L-G Sinha had to cancel his inaugural session.

It may be stated here that the agitating DDC members belong to all parties including the BJP.

The maiden DDC elections to 280 seats — 14 each in 20 districts — were held in November-December last year and the chairpersons and their deputies in the districts were elected last month.

The DDC members staged the protest after the UT administration amended its warrant of precedence, placing the DDC chairpersons equivalent to administrative secretaries, vice-chairpersons to vice-chancellors of universities and the DDC members to district magistrates.

As per the government order, the DDC chairpersons would get monthly honorarium of ₹35,000 including ₹1,500 travel allowance and ₹500 telephone charges. Vice-chairpersons will get ₹25,000 including ₹1,500 for travel and ₹500 phone allowance, while the members will be entitled to ₹15,000, including ₹1,500 travel and ₹500 phone allowance.

“We have received a message from the L-G, who is presently out of the station, and is coming back on March 12, for a meeting to address our genuine demands,” said DDC chairperson and senior BJP leader Bharat Bushan.

Bushan was flanked by other DDC members affiliated with different parties including the Congress, National Conference, PDP, CPI (M) and Independents who had assembled at the Exhibition Ground here to resume their protest this morning.

Bushan said they were calling off the stir on the assurance of L-G Sinha that “injustice will be undone”.