PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir administration for allegedly forcing employees, including pre💞gnant women, to report for the International Yoga Day event at odd hours, saying an occasion for celebration h🌟as filled people with dread.
However, the government denied the charges and said all the part♓icipants volunteered to take part in the event and no employee was compelled to join it against their will.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the main International Yoga Day (IYD) celebrations this year at an even🌊t at SKICC here on Friday.
"An occasion for celebration has become one that fills people with dread. A ☂day before International Yoga Day, all govt employees along with school children have been ordered to show up at different venues at ungo🔴dly hours.
꧋"Even pregnant employees have not been spared. A pregnant employee was threatened to choose between her job or being present at the event," Mufti said in a post on X.
She was reacting to a post by one Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, 🌸who said on X, "In connection with International Yoga Day celebrations Female Govt Employees were asked to reach SP College Srinagar at 4 am yesterday. They left their homes at 3 am & were asked to change their dress in College & tღhen go to SKICC. Not a Fair practice".
Bh🙈at said it was a very odd time and should not be repeated.
"Instead Male staff members could have been callꦜed," he added.
Rebutting the charge, J&K Directo𝓰r Colleges termed the charge as "misinformation".
"The Director Colleges J&꧂amp;K has rebutted this misinformation stating that all participants in the Yoga Day celebrations have volunteered to take part in the event and no employee was compelled to join t♚he event against their will," a statement from the administration said.
The Director Colleges asserted that emplꦜoyees were n♑ot required to change their clothing.
"They were provided🏅 with long tunics to wear over their existing attire, ensuring their comfort and convenience. The Director also stated that the employees' well-being was🤪 prioritized. Pregnant employees and those with medical conditions were not asked to participate in the Yoga Day celebrations," the statement said.
The Director Colleges urged everyone to verify facts bef🐟ore spreading "false narratives" that ca🌜n cause unnecessary concern and confusion.
