Lakhs of government employees in Uttar Pradesh today took out rallies and staged sit-ins across the state protesting against a bill to provide reservation to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotions in jobs.

Over 18 lakh employees, chanting slogans against the Congress and the BJP, continued their stir crippling work in offices terming the step as unconstitutional.

Essential services were exempted from the purview of the agitation spearheaded by Sarvjan Hitai Sanrakshan Samiti.

Samiti chief Shailendra Dubey said the employees took out protest marches from their respective offices in the state capital accusing political parties of playing politics of vote.

They also held a protest meeting near the Legislative Assembly here, he said adding similar protests were also held in all district headquarters to demand withdrawal of the bill.

Claiming employees of other states like Uttarakhand had also launched protests, Dubey said "the Samiti fervently appeals to political parties not to divide society."

He said since no political party had promised quota in promotions, these should seek a mandate on the issue in the upcoming polls.

In case the bill was put to vote without political parties issuing whip, the reality would be different, Dubey said.