Himachal Pradesh Employees' Federation Supports Protesting Secretariat Employees, Warns Government

The Himachal Pradesh Employees' Federation has declared its support for protesting secretariat employees and cautioned the state government about the consequences of neglecting staff demands. Federation president Virender Chauhan emphasized that the employees' calls for pending dearness allowance and arrears are justified. The Federation criticized the state's showcause notices and warned of intensified protests.

The Himachal Pradesh Employees' Federation on Sunday extended its support to secretariat employees who are currently protesting, warning the government of potential repercussions if their demands are ignored.

Federation state president Virender Chauhan, who chaired a general meeting addressing issues including pending dearness allowance and arrears, asserted that the demands of the secretariat employees were justified and warranted serious consideration from the government.

The state administration recently issued showcause notices to leaders of the Federation of Secretarial Employees' Unions for allegedly defamatory remarks about the government's policies, escalating tensions further. Chauhan emphasized the need for better coordination and dialogue between the government and employees, reflecting that previous administrations had not ignored such demands. With 4.85 lakh employees and pensioners in the state, Chauhan warned that ignoring these issues could lead to intensified protests.

Further criticism came from BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur, who warned that Himachal Pradesh could face severe debt issues, potentially affecting the payment of employee salaries.

(With inputs from agencies.)