50,000 govt employees court arrest, demand regular jobs

Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh, February 26

On a ‘jail bharo’ call given by the central trade unions and the Akhil Bhartiya Karamchari Parisangh, employees of various government departments and agencies staged protests and held demonstrations across the state before courting arrest.

The general secretary of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Subhash Lamba, said as many as 50,000 employees courted arrest in the state to press for their demand of regularising services of contractual employees and outsourcing work. “This is the first employees’ protest against the newly-elected BJP government. If the government does not watch our interest, we are capable of intensifying our stir,” he said.

In a protest that saw participation from the Sangh, the Haryana Karmchari Mahasangh, the Haryana Employees’ Joint Forum among various other bodies, the employees marched from different quarters in the district to the Mini-Secretariat where they courted arrest. The police loaded them into buses and dropped them off at various locations. 

Gurgaon: Joining the nation-wide protest against the proposed new industrial policy members of various trade unions across Gurgaon, under the banner of Trade Union Council, held a solidarity march today and staged a demonstration at the Mini-Secretariat. They condemned the ‘anti-labour policies’ of the Central government.

Panipat: About 1,100 employees and activists of various organisations including All Haryana Employees Power Corporation Workers’ Union, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Khet Mazdoor Union and CITU courted their arrest at Mini-Secretariat.

Sirsa: Employees from various government departments courted arrests at Sirsa and Fatehabad today. The employees’ leaders alleged the Central Government was changing labour laws to suit a few top industrialists.

Jind: Hundreds of government employees and members of various trade unions courted arrest at the local administrative complex today in support of their demands. The protesters assembled in front of the complex at 2 pm, and tried to proceed towards the office of the DC, but were arrested. 

Rohtak: The protesters raised slogans against the Centre’s privatisation policy and alleged anti-employee changes in labour laws and courted arrests. The CPM expressed solidarity with the employees and participated in the protest. 

Karnal: Participating in the nation-wide demonstrations against the policies of the Central and state government, trade unions today staged a protest. They also submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commisioner J. Ganesan.

Ambala: Various trade unions led by Sarv Karmchari Sangh leaders protested in front of the DC’s office today and submitted a memorandum to the SDM mentioning their pending demands. 

Jhajjar: Over 200 hundreds representatives of various trade unions and employees’ associations courted arrest today after organising a demonstration to mount pressure on the state government for fulfilling their demands.

Yamunanagar: The employees belonging to eleven employees unions and associated with Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh and Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh gathered at Kanhaiya Chowk before reaching the Mini-Secretariat. Jagadhri SDM Prem Chand said no arrest was made.

Sonepat: Activists from different trade unions and government employees associations under the banner of Haryana Sanyukt Karamchari Sangh organised a protest march today.

Kaithal: Large number of employees and workers from various government departments and trade unions held a protest and reached the Mini-Secretariat in a huge procession and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime minister to the Deputy Commissioner. 

Rewari: Hundreds of employees and representatives of different trade unions today held a protest demonstration at the Mini-Secretariat and courted arrest after criticising the state government for not fulfilling their demands. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the police to prevent any untoward incident. The arrested employees were let off after some time.