Pen down, App down: AP Sachivalayam staff protest govt order on new pay scales

A day after thousands of government employees descended on Vijayawada for the 'Chalo Vijayawada' protest, the Sachivalayam employees on Friday launched a 'Pen down, App down' protest demanding the Andhra Pradesh government take back the GO issued last month, pay their January salaries as per the old wages, and disclose the Ashutosh Mishra Committee report on PRC. Other departments are also protesting the GO. According to sources, the civil supplies department has stopped taking applications which has affected the services provided to ration card holders.

After the government employees launched the massive 'Chalo Vijayawada' protest on 4 February, the employees of Andhra Pradesh Secretariat protested against the 11th PRC by walking backwards and raising the slogan 'We Want Justice'.

*DGP Gautam Sawang meets CM Jagan

Director-General of Police, Gautam Sawang, met Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday and had discussion on the 'Chalo Vijayawada' protest that saw about 50,000 employees take part on 3 February. They were discussions held on functioning of intelligence and surveillance system. Despite permissions denied by the Vijayawada Police, 'Chalo Vijayawada' program had many employees who came to Vijayawada in disguise so as escape from the police, sources said many had reached the city two days before the protest. It is also learnt that the protest on Thursday saw volunteers and youth from other political parties also joining in.

On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Joint Action Committee (AP JAC) leaders had announced an indefinite strike from 6 February midnight. The staff of the electricity department and the State Road Transport Corporation will take part in the indefinite strike, it is being said. Ahead of their indefinite strike, the Chief Minister is likely to start negotiations with the employees' union and address their grievances.