Thin attendance in secretariat belies govt's normalcy claims

The thin attendance of ministers and senior officials at the civil secretariat here belies the J&K government’s claims that normalcy was returning to the violence-hit Valley. Life has been paralysed for two weeks due to the curfew and strike following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

The secretariat wears a deserted look as most of the ministers have abandoned their offices, preferring the safety of their homes.

Sources said either the ministers don’t attend office or just come in for an hour or two. “The ministers are afraid to travel due to the fear of being attacked by violent mobs. To be on the safer side, they avoid coming to the secretariat. Even the attendance of the employees is thin,” a source said.

The ministers held a review meeting of their respective departments three days ago, but have not been taking stock of the work done regularly.

Reports said some employees from the Jammu region are heading back to spend time with their families. “I am going to Jammu today by road and will come after a week. I feel suffocated here. My phone is not working and there is no work in the office,” an employee said.

A senior officer on the condition of anonymity told DH it is very difficult for them to reach the secretariat in the prevailing situation. “How can we come when people are pelting stones and attacking our vehicles? I came after four days because it was not safe to come here,” he said.

On Wednesday, the government had asked the employees of Srinagar and Anantnag districts to report for work, and had also ordered the reopening of schools in some parts of the Valley.