Aizawl (mizonews.net): Leaders of Joint Action Committee on Pay Anomalies (JACOPA) justifying their agitation of taking Mass Casual Leave from Monday last till yesterday (Friday), said what they had done is all for claiming their right and privilege; and strongly reiterates that the state government is dealing with the Government employees ‘unconstitutionally’ with regard to their salary.

Expressing their anguish as their plea to the government for a number of times has not been responded and hence the need to protest with Mass Casual Leave. JACOPA leaders said: “Our agitation is not just because of our salary. What we want and seek is justice and equality.”

JACOPA claimed that Mizoram government has wrongly increased the pay scale of some servicemen, and said “the government even increase it to more than as has been recommended by the Pay Committee 2011; therefore, to stop its act of discrimination, and to make equal pay scale is all what we want” JACOPA leaders said.

JACOPA said that urged that their issue dealt with in the upcoming Cabinet meeting on August 21, 2012, and “We have high expectation upon the government, and we believe the government rectifies the wrongs that has been done before” JACOPA said. Replying to query, Lalrin¬tluanga Colbert clarified that they did not boycott the Independence by taking mass casual leave, and said they do their work on par with the salary they get. Regarding the listing of names of participated in the mass casual leave by GAD, “Any agitation is not allowed by the law; but Supreme Court allows that the government employees can claim their rights, therefore we also claim our rights” Lalrin¬tluanga Colbert said.

Keywords: Mizoram News