Protesters block gate of MC Zone A office

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 10

The protest of the Municipal Karamchari Dal has now started affecting the working at Zone A office of the Municipal Corporation (MC). A few protesters blocked the main entry gate of the MC office premises today. They did not allow anyone to enter or exit the office till the time they held a sit in.

Besides facing disappointment of their work not being done, visitors also had to bear rude behavior of protesters, which also perturbed the staff working at the MC office.

Protesters blocked the entry gate of the MC Zone A office for the third consecutive day today. Other protesters, including women sat on a dharna, while a few youths blocked the entrance and prohibited the entry/exit in the MC office today.

Surinder Singh, a visitor, said he had to get a document from the MC office, which he needed for his new passport. “I am coming to the office for the past two days, but not allowed to go inside. Why should people be made to suffer when the issue is between the authorities and civic body employees? I have decided to wait till the time protesters lift their dharna,” rued Surinder.

An employee with the MC Zone A office said working had come to a virtual halt because of blocking of the main gate by protesters. Earlier, too, they were protesting but, neither the working at the MC office, nor visitors were affected. “In the morning hours we stay idle as there is no rush of visitors,” maintained the employee.

One of the women staff working at the MC Zone A office said there was just one washroom for females here. “Protesters deliberately sit near the washroom so that women employees are reluctant to go there. We go to other’s washroom only in case of an emergency. Protesters behave rudely with all, especially with employees of the MC,” rued the employee.

The Karamchari Dal has been protesting against the authorities and state government for almost a month. They want safai sewaks to be regularised, besides stopping A-Z Company from lifting door to door garbage. They are demanding that garbage lifting work should be done by civic body employees only.