Strike shocker for passport applicants

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31

The pen-down strike by the All-India Passport Employees Association (AIPEA) left scores of passport applicants stranded today.

Venting ire, a large number of people gathered outside the Passport Seva Kendra in Industrial Area and the Regional Passport Office in Sector 34-A, said how could the association make them suffer.

A majority of the applicants complained that they did not know about the strike.

In Industrial Area, a few youngster were allowed to enter the kendra. Deepankar Das, passport officer, said outsourcing agency employees were conducting the first-level verification, while the B and C levels were not being checked,” said Das, who along with his colleagues, was sitting on a dharna outside the kendra.

Davinder Singh, a resident of Rajpura, learnt about the strike on reaching the office. 

“The security staff asked me to come tomorrow. They should have informed us about the strike. Now, I will have to come again,”  said Davinder. 

The staff were raising slogans opposing the transfer of 400 employees. Outside the office, Roshail from Ludhiana was anxiously waiting and requesting the employees to call off the strike. 

“It is my fourth visit to the division office. Each time, I come, they send me back. I can’t come to Chandigarh every day,” said Roshail.

Naresh Kumar and Rajiv from Kaithal said: “Only a select few were allowed to enter the office. Such protests are the reason why people approach middlemen.”  

Regional Passport OfficerMunish Kumar said despite the strike, the Passport Seva Kendra and the Regional Passport Office were operational. 

Sehdev Kaushik, office-bearer of the All-Indian Passport Employee Association, said they were forced to resort to agitation as the employees were transferred without any reason. 

Later,  the ministry revoked its decision and asked the staff to call off the strike. 

Sehdev Kaushik said they had got a message, but were yet to receive a formal order.