Gandhinagar, Feb 22 (IANS): Thousands of fixed-pay teachers and employees of the Gujarat State Transport Corporation (GSTC) laid siege to the Gujarat Assembly here on Friday raising their oft-repeated demand of same-work-same-pay even as the police lathicharged them at several places.

The show of strength by contractual teachers and the GSTC staff found backing from the opposition Congress, forcing the state's ruling BJP government to constitute a committee of three Cabinet-rank ministers to look into the demands.

The teachers' agitation started on Thursday with a call to gherao the Assembly on Friday.

Hundreds of teachers have since been protesting at their respective district headquarters while at many places, contingents getting ready to proceed to the state capital were prevented by huge police deployment.

The agitating teachers have been engaged in government schools and colleges on a contractual fixed-pay arrangements for at least two decades. While they have not been absorbed in government jobs, their salaries are much less than the full-time teachers.

On the other hand, the agitation by GSTC employees has disrupted bus services in almost all districts. Stranded passengers had no other option but to take private vehicles at exorbitant rates.

The employees are demanding salaries according to the Seventh Pay Commission like all other government employees. Their salaries were not revised because the State Transport Corporation is running huge losses.