BJP backs OU staff stir

Recalling his association with OU, where he pursued MA and LLB and where his father served as a professor, Rao said he had a responsibility to protect the university's dignity

Metro India News | Hyderabad : BJP State President N. Ramachandar Rao has demanded that the Congress government and Osmania University authorities immediately hold talks with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of striking non-teaching employees and resolve their long-pending issues. Visiting the protest camp outside the OU Administrative Building, Rao expressed solidarity with non-teaching, technical, time-scale and contractual staff demanding the restoration of pension benefits, regularisation of services, better wages and healthcare facilities.

He criticised the university administration for neglecting employees who had served the institution for decades on meagre salaries without job security or adequate retirement benefits. He particularly questioned the failure to implement equal pay for equal work and regularise contractual and time-scale employees despite their 25 - 30 years of service.

Rao demanded restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for employees appointed between 2001 and 2004, implementation of CPS for those appointed after 2004, cancellation of the LIC-linked pension system, enhancement of medical reimbursement from Rs.10,000 to Rs.30,000 and clearance of pending promotions and departmental notifications.

The BJP leader condemned disciplinary action against protesting employees and cited the suspension of former association president Professor Manohar as an example of the administration's high-handedness.

Recalling his association with OU, where he pursued MA and LLB and where his father served as a professor, Rao said he had a responsibility to protect the university's dignity. He warned that the BJP would intensify its support for the employees' agitation if their demands were not addressed immediately.

BJP State General Secretary Gautam Rao, former professors, student leaders, university employees' association representatives and OU JAC leaders accompanied him.