UP government fourth class staff to exercise NOTA

Lucknow, March 22 (IANS) The fourth class government employees in Uttar Pradesh have decided to opt for the None Of The Above (NOTA) option in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, it was announced Saturday.

Ram Raj Dubey, president of the Chaturth Shreni Rajya Karmachari Mahasangh, said this was being done in protest against the dilly-dallying on their outstanding demands.

"We have been petitioning almost all parties, including the ruling Samajwadi Party but rather than addressing our demands, the politicians are trying to fool us," he told IANS.

Dubey added that in protest, the employees would opt for the NOTA option during the polls across the state.

The employees union also thanked the Supreme Court and the Election Commission for making this provision available to voters.

The workers leaders said they have been demanding scrapping of new pension scheme and bringing back the old system. They are also demanding an immediate ban on outsourcing and regularisation of the employment process for their cadres.

The decision of the fourth class employees of the Uttar Pradesh government to not vote for any candidate has left the state government and politicians a worried lot.