Attacking the Congress party led state government over what it called its failure to safeguard the interests of farmers and industrial workers in Himachal, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Friday said the Congress leadership should initiate action against state social justice and empowerment minister DR Shandil for overlooking their grievances and neglecting development in the district.
Condemning the government's action against peaceful demonstrators, AITUC exhorted the leaders of democratic, progressive and patriotic forces to join hands with it against the “anti-people, anti-youth and anti-farmer” policies of the Virbhadra Singh government to ensure its ouster in next assembly elections. It said the silence of Solan MLA and Shandil over the issue was enough indication that the minister was “siding with capitalists”.
Talking to reporters, AITUC state president Jagdish Bhardwaj along with other leaders said that resorting of cane charge sand water canon on industrial workers at Chambaghat has unmasked the “dictatorial” approach of the present government that “virtually attempted to throttle the voice of the common man in a welfare state”.
“AITUC has constantly been urging the government to formulate a specific policy to protect the crops of the farmers from wild animals, support price for various cash and traditional crops, enhancement of minimum daily wages from Rs 10,000 per month, hike in monthly honorarium of midday meal and 'anganwadi' workers, covering of all crops under crop insurance scheme and enforcement of the Right to Education Act in all government and private schools in the state. It's a matter of grave concern that instead of giving serious thought to people's grievances, the Congress party led government is crushing the voice of the common man,” Bhardwaj added.
Accusing Shandil of being responsible for “cane charging” workers, he said: “It's a matter of concern that instead of expressing sympathy with injured workers the minister continues to be silent over the issue. Developmental projects have come to a halt ever since the Congress party came to power in the state with Shandil opting to stay in Shimla instead of Solan. The recent police action showed the minister has lost control over the administration as well as party organization in Solan, leaving the residents in lurch.”
{{/usCountry}}Accusing Shandil of being responsible for “cane charging” workers, he said: “It's a matter of concern that instead of expressing sympathy with injured workers the minister continues to be silent over the issue. Developmental projects have come to a halt ever since the Congress party came to power in the state with Shandil opting to stay in Shimla instead of Solan. The recent police action showed the minister has lost control over the administration as well as party organization in Solan, leaving the residents in lurch.”
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