CPM protests ‘harassment’ of HPSEBL union leaders

The Shimla district committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) office on Tuesday, demanding the immediate cancellation of chargesheets, suspensions and transfers issued to union leaders.

The party also sought the restoration of trade union rights for Board employees, lifting of the ban on gate meetings, protests and rallies at Kumar House and other field offices, removal of “corrupt” management officials, fulfillment of employee demands and an end to what it termed the “harassment of workers.”

Addressing the protesters, CPM leader Vijender Mehra said the HPSEBL Employees Union has been raising important issues within the framework of the law, including the demands of employees and pensioners, exposing corruption in management, filling vacant posts, restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), regularising outsourced and contractual workers and ensuring affordable electricity for consumers.

“These democratic and constitutional activities, protected under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution and the Trade Union Act of 1926, are being suppressed through harassment of union leaders,” Mehra alleged. “Issuing notices, chargesheets, transfers and suspensions reflects an authoritarian mindset unacceptable in a democracy.”

He claimed the repression was aimed at weakening the union’s fight against corruption, pointing to the reappointment of retired officials and alleged large-scale financial irregularities by the Board’s management. He said banning gate meetings, rallies, protests and strikes at the Kumar House headquarters was a “clear violation” of constitutional and trade union rights.

Mehra further criticised the “anti-people, neoliberal policies” of the central and state governments, claiming these were leading to the destruction of public sector undertakings across the country.

The CPM expressed solidarity with HPSEBL employees, who have announced a rally in Shimla on August 7 to press for their demands.