New Delhi: Over 100 workers of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) held a protest outside NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s residence in Mumbai on Friday, blaming him for their losses and said that he did not do anything to resolve their issue.
The Mumbai police have registered an FIR against 107 persons for rioting and conspiracy, PTI reported. Among them, 23 of the accused are women.
Thousands of MSRTC workers have been agitating since November 2021, demanding merger of the corporation with the state government. This will give them better salaries and benefits at par with the government employees.
On Friday, the protesting employees reached 'Silver Oak', the residence of Pawar in south Mumbai, in the afternoon and shouted slogans against him. Some employees even hurled their footwear toward his house, news agency PTI reported.
"Some 120 MSRTC employees have died by suicide during the strike. These are not suicides, but murders of the state policy. We are firm on our demand for a merger of the MSRTC with the state government. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has not done anything to resolve the issue," an agitating employee of the MSRTC said.
NCP MP Supriya Sule, Pawar's daughter, rushed out and appealed to the workers to remain calm, and sit for negotiations.
"With folded hands, I am pleading to you... please keep calm, my parents and my children are inside the house and I am concerned for their safety. Don't indulge in such behaviour," said Sule.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil has ordered the police to submit a report on the incident, saying there could be some "unknown political force of a political party" behind the swoop on Pawar's household.
"They kept womenfolk at the forefront so the police couldn't take any restrictive measures. We are enquiring into the episode and all those found guilty will not be spared," IANS quoted Walse-Patil as saying.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court issued an order on Thursday asking all employees to resume their duties from April 22.
The order also said that no action would be taken against the employees who return to work, and the previous actions taken by the Corporation against the employees will be taken back.
It also added that the retired employees will be given their remaining Provident Fund. And the employees who worked during the pandemic will be given a wage of Rs 300 per day.
However, the court order made it clear that the employees who would not return to work are subject to action by the Corporation. And a three-member committee will resolve the issues of the employees.