Aditayanath govt in UP bans strikes, demonstrations for 6 months
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Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh BJP government banned strikes and demonstrations in its departments, corporations and local authorities for the next six months, invoking the Uttar Pradesh Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), PTI reported.
The decision was made in view of the Maha Kumbh Mela being conducted in the state.
"In exercise of the powers under sub-section (1) of section-3 of the Uttar Pradesh Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1966 (U.P. Act No. 30 of 1966), the State government prohibited strike for a period of six months from the date of the notification," reads the notification issued by the State government.
The ESMA gives the state police power to arrest employees who violate the provisions of the Act without a warrant. In such cases, imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or a fine which may extend to ₹1,000 or both would be awarded to any person who starts a strike that was made illegal by the Act, The Hindu reported.
State BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla said a divine and grand Kumbh is going to be held in the state in the coming months, and other important programmes have also been proposed.
Shukla said that steps have been taken to ensure the availability of basic facilities to the visiting devotees and residents.
Principal opposition in Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi Party, however, termed the move "undemocratic".
SP MLC Ashutosh Sinha told PTI, "People and government employees have a right to express their views as per the provisions of the Constitution. But it seems that the government does not want people to do so."