Spate of demonstrations rock CM office

Spate of demonstrations rock CM office
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, JAN 12: The Democratic Front government's decision to slash the payments of clerical staff in the state evoked strong reactions from the latter who staged demonstrations at several government offices in the city today.

Angry government employees gathered outside their offices and shouted slogans in protest of the cabinet's decision, with a good number of employees gathering at Mantralaya, the headquarters of the state government.

Over 3,000 employees attempted a barge in at the Mantralaya into the Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's cabin. The employees who were protesting the government's decision resorted to shouting slogans outside the building when the police prevented them from entering the CM's office located on the sixth floor.

The employees were shouting slogans like Mantrimandal Kashala? Janatela Lootayala! (the DF ministry is sitting here to rob the people) and Karmachari Virodhi Sarkarcha Nishedh Aso ! (Down with the anti-employees government).

The series of demonstrations, which began at around 1.30 pm outside the `Aarsa Gate' where the employees gathered started to shouted slogans, all cumulated and later proceeded towards the main gate entering the Mantralaya building. Only when they reached the sixth floor and were about enter the lobby outside the CM's cabin did the police managed to intercept them and halted their progress any further.

The employees who refused to leave demanded that Deshmukh should come in person and assure then that the decision would be cancelled immediately. It was only after the leaders of the employees' unions assured them that they would talk to the CM and place their demands before him, did the mob disperse. Women employees in Mantralaya also participated in demonstrations actively.

Later talking to reporters, Gajanan Shetye, President of Brinhanmumbai Sarkari Karmachari Sanghatana, its general secretary Sunil Joshi and Ramdas Padwal, General Secretary of the Mantralaya Karmachari Sanghatana, said that the demonstrations were spontaenous. ``After reading the cabinet's decisions in the newspapers, the employees at different government offices began demonstrating outside their places of work. To avoid any untowards by channelising their anger, the unions decided to demonstrate in peaceful manner,''said Shetye. However, the union leaders fumbled for answers when asked if they justified the way the employees expressed their ire against government.

The leaders said they would continue to agitate against the decision but added that they were ready to negotiate with the government on the issue. ``The goverment has taken the decision without talking to the unions. On one side, it has failed to prevent rising prices of essential commodities and on the other, it is cutting down our payments,''said Shetye.

``In fact, the state government's decision was dictated by the World Bank,'' he alleged.

Government employees at sales tax office, government printing press, new administrative office at Bandra, ESIS centres, dairies at Kurla and Worli and technical education office staged demonstrations outside their offices.

Joshi and Padwal said the executive body of the union will soon meet to chalk out the future plan of action.