Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 1: Stating that the right to organize peaceful protests is an inalienable right of the people in a democratic polity, State secretary CPI (M) Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today appealed all the political parties and Trade Unions to rise to the occasion against denial of democratic rights to workers of Chenani-Nasari Four Lane Tunnel Project.
Talking to reporters here, today, Tarigami condemned the police crackdown against workers of the Project. The denial of right to peaceful protests will only encourage the emergence of autocratic and violent forces in the society, he added.
Taking strong exception to denial of democratic rights to workers in the State and police crack down and lathicharge over them to usurp their rights Tarigami said this way the State Government was taking disadvantage of special constitutional status given to it.
He said the management of the project should carry the workers along instead of taking them at a ride. “The management should listen to them, talk to them; engage them allow them to protest and accommodate their long pending demands,” he remarked.
The CPI (M) leader urged the Government to avoid confrontation and find out an amicable solution to the issues through negotiations with the representatives of workers unions and associations. “The long pending genuine demands of the Chenani-Nasari workers should be given a patient hearing by the management and an amicable solution should be reached at which can end this stalemate,” the CPI (M) leader demanded.
He alleged that these workers are not being paid even minimum wages, not covered under benefits of Employees Provident Fund Act, not being paid their allowances for overtime and there is no sufficient safety mechanism available to them.
“The House Committee on Environment had visited the project spot but found the working conditions of these workers deplorable. There are no sufficient protection or safety measures available to the workers who are supposed to work under hazardous conditions,” Tarigami observed.
The CPI (M) leader demanded that the workers who have been terminated by the Leighton Company should be reinstated without any further delay and they shall also be provided facilities under Labour Act and those who have been arrested by implicating under false cases be released. He warned that CPI (M) will launch agitation in case the rights of workers were not restored.
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