BJP lends support to striking NLC labour unions

CHENNAI: BJP today extended support to striking workers of public sector Neyveli Lignite Corporation, and demanded that the Centre and state government meet SEBI officials to safeguard NLC employees' future interests.


"The meeting of the Centre and state governments with SEBI officials should be in such a way to safeguard the future interests of striking workers. NLC workers' justified demands should be accepted," BJP state president Pon Radhakrishnan said in a statement.

Citing reports that neither the Centre nor state government had clearly stated their stand, he demanded that authorities act swiftly to ensure that a 'riot-like situation' does not emerge.

He said 177 of the total of 30,000 striking workers had gone on an indefinite fast on July 13, of whom five had fainted and 10 are in critical condition.

The workers, including about 13,000 contractual employees defied a Madras High Court order and struck work on Wednesday last, protesting the Centre's decision to disinvest five per cent stake in the PSU.

However about 7,000 NLC engineers and officers are not participating in the strike.

The court, in an interim order on a petition filed by the NLC management, had restrained the unions from going on strike.