Gurgaon: Ahead of court sentence today, Maruti plant workers skip meal

The district court, Gurgaon, had convicted 13 employees of Maruti’s Manesar factory of murder, and 18 others of rioting and other charges on March 10. As many as 117 workers were acquitted.

A day before the announcement of punishment for 31 workers convicted in the July 2012 Maruti Suzuki Manesar plant violence case, workers across industries skipped their day’s meal and protested silently. Workers later held a meeting at Maruti’s Manesar plant, and told the media that they have decided the future course of action but the execution would depend on the court announcement.

Workers of Maruti’s Manesar unit being taken into custody after being convicted in the violence case. (Sanjeev Verma/HT FILE)

The canteens wore a deserted look on Thursday as the workers did not turnup for lunch. Several workers said it marked their resentment against the system for not providing facts before the court during trial, resulting in the conviction of 31 colleagues.

The district court, Gurgaon, had convicted 13 employees of murder, and 18 others of rioting and other charges on March 10. As many as 117 workers were acquitted.

The labour unrest and violence at Maruti’s Manesar plant took place on July 18, 2012 in which 100 employees were injured and one senior executive of the company was killed.

Read I Manesar violence ‘bad dot’ in Maruti’s history: CEO

Kuldeep Singh Jhangu, general secretary, Maruti Udyog Kamgaar Union, said, “It is a sensitive moment for us, as, on the one hand, we have respect for the court while on the other hand, we pray for our convicted friends who will be facing a tough time tomorrow. We are worried about their families and their financial conditions.”

“We skipped a meal earlier too as a mark of our solidarity (to the convicted workers) and we can say that sections under which they have been convicted, are a proof of poor functioning of police,” Ram Niwas, another member of Manesar Union, said.