GUWAHATI, Dec 25 - The State government is drawing flak from various sections of people over the notice its had issued recently over participation of government employees in political activities.
Reacting to the notice, president of the Sadou Asom Karmachari Parishad Basab Kalita said, �Such a notice will not stop government employees of Assam from participating in the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act-2019 (CAA). We have a history. In the past, too, government employees of Assam had carried out several protests in support of various demands. Moreover, during the Assam agitation, the government employees were on the forefront.�
Terming the CAA as an anti-Assamese and dangerous move by the BJP-led government, Kalita stated that the government employee community of Assam will continue their participation in all protest programmes against the Act.
�This Act is facing resentment from all sections of the public. So we have to continue our protest in a non-violent way. We will extend our support to protests organised by any organisation of Assam,� he asserted.
Meanwhile, the Director of Elementary Education also issued a separate notification on the same matter on Tuesday.
The notice, by citing the earlier office order of the State government, said that any employee found violating the rules would face disciplinary action in the coming days.
Reacting to the notification, general secretary of the All Assam Lower Primary Teachers� Association (ALPTA) Ratul Chandra Goswami said, �We have no link with any political party. But debarring anyone from taking part any political activity is also illegal as per the Indian Constitution.�
He challenged the ruling BJP to cancel all memberships the party has granted earlier, to teachers and government employees of the State.
�The party has first given membership to government employees and now they are warning us against getting involved in political activities. The issue of the CAA cannot be solved with suppression. The government should take the advice of the teacher community,� he added.
