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Talks fail, Rajasthan staff to intensify stir

Kamla Bora in Jaipur

With the failure of informal talks between the arrested leaders of the striking employees and the Rajasthan government representatives, the indefinite strike by the non-gazetted staff further intensified yesterday as more than a hundred employees courted arrest at all the district headquarters.

The state government had opened non-official channels to ascertain if the impasse with the agitating employees could be removed and brought 11 arrested leaders to Jaipur from various jails in the state. But the informal exchange of views failed to resolve the crisis.

As it became clear that the deadlock would continue, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said in Jaipur that the government would not budge as it cannot sacrifice the people's interests to fulfil the demands of its employees.

Rajasthan State Employees Joint Federation general secretary Giriraj Kishore has said they would intensify the strike by re-launching their jail bharo (fill prisons) agitation. He said the employees would adopt a 'do or die' approach to force the government to concede their demands of payment of bonus and additional instalment of dearness allowance.

Police sources in Jaipur said more than 100 employees courted arrest at different district headquarters.

More than a dozen employees courted arrest in Jaipur, where a large contingent of police forces and Rapid Action Force had been deployed to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, a large number of government offices remained deserted on the 45th day of employees' strike.

Although gazetted officers are not on strike, their association has supported the demands of the state employees by wearing black bands on their sleeves.

The state government has so far terminated the services of 35 employees for allegedly sabotaging drinking water supply.

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