Will oppose ruling alliance in MC poll, say linemen

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, December 6

Members of the district unit of the Unemployed Linemen Union took out a march in the town today. They gathered at Banasar Garden and held a rally.
The protesters burnt an effigy of the government at the traffic light chowk and blocked the road for some time. They raised slogans against the state government and in support of their demand. The protesters were led by district vice-president of the union Kuldip Singh Longowal.
At least 4,000 linemen were denied appointment by PSPCL. They have been protesting since August 2011, but to no avail.
Union leaders allege the government was not serious towards their demand. They warned if they were not employed, they would be compelled to intensify their agitation. They said they would oppose candidates of the SAD-BJP alliance in the municipal council elections.
Abohar: Activists of the Unemployed Linemen Union today resumed their three-year-old agitation against the state government.
They organised a protest march in the town. The activists assembled at Sadar Bazaar chowk, raised anti-government slogans, burnt an effigy of the government. A heavy police force was deployed at the site.
Union’s district president Kulbir Singh said Punjab State Power Corporation Limited had issued an advertisement in 2010 to recruit 5,000 linemen. After the counselling process, only 1,000 candidates were given appointment letters and the remaining were left in the lurch.
Block president Pala Ram said the government was citing a High Court ruling putting a ban on the appointment of linemen. As per the verdict given by the court on February 22, 2013, there was no ban on the appointments, he claimed.
The protesters resented that some of their colleagues had lost their lives during the agitation as they were unable to make both ends meet. No compensation was given to their families by the government despite announcements in this regard. “We will campaign against candidates of the ruling alliance in
the forthcoming civic body elections,” a union leader warned.