Labour unions corner govt over non-implementation of decisions

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 5

Labour and farm unions on Sunday decided to increase the timings of their rail roko from 12 pm to 4 pm (earlier it was 3 pm) on December 12. The decision was taken due to non-fulfilment of demands by the state government.

On November 23, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Agricultural Minister Randeep Singh Nabha had held a meeting with various outfits.

The Sanjha Morcha leader Gurnam Singh Daud said they would burn effigies of the state government on December 8, 9 and 10.

Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union president Sanjeev Mintu said CM Channi has not released any letter regarding the demands of farmers and labourer.

Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha’s senior leader Gulzar Gaurian said the CM should release a notification on demands agreed during the meeting, including disbursal of plots to homeless, restoration of uprooted electricity meters along with exemption of pending dues, surcharge and fines levied on power bills, ensuring 25 per cent share of homeless pesants in the Cooperative Societies, extending loans of Rs 50,000 to landless farmers, provision of pulses, sugar and essential items at ration depots at controlled rates.

Makkhan Singh Ramgarh of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha and Pargat Singh Kalajhar of Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union said the Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has installed huge hoardings regarding residential plots and bill waivers among others, but there was a huge gap between what was being claimed and what has been implemented on the ground level.

Lachman Singh and Kashmir Singh Ghugshore, both associated with labour unions, said a high-level SIT should also be constituted to look into the issues of atrocities against the Dalits. Other leaders said it was declared that the report of SIT related to murder of Lakhvir Singh at Singhu Border would be released within a couple of days, but nothing has happened so far.

Bhagwant Singh Samao and Devi Kuamri said the CM’s decision regarding cancellation of dummy auction at Masania village in Gurdaspur has not been implemented to date.

Irked union leaders said Congress looks to retain the power by playing the Dalit CM card and empty promises. Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union chief Zora Singh Nasrali, Pendu Mazdoor Union president Tarsem Peter and Dehati Mazdoor Sabha chief Darshan Nahar were also present on the occasion.