Workers to protest at CM house today

About a dozen unions representing SC/STs, sweepers, nurses, teachers, labourers and other state government employees will be observing a day-long fast on Wednesday outside chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence to press for their long-pending demands, including release of their salaries and allowances and regularisation of all contractual workers in the national capital.

These union, that have joined hands to take on the AAP government for not addressing their pressing issues, have decided that if the administration fails to redress their grievances by January 16, they will take their agitation to every nook and corner of the city till all their demands are met. Considering the size, scale and clout these unions enjoy, things are reportedly going to be difficult for the administrative machinery to function in the city.

Former city legislator, who is heading the agitation, said that it was going to be a “do or die” battle for all the unions till all of their demands were met. “Whatever big promises all the political parties have made to us before the elections, they are bound to implement them.”

At a recent public meeting of various organisations of the Delhi SC/ST and bacvkward classes and safai karamcharis held under the leadership of former All-India Congress Committee secretary Jai Kishen, a unanimous decision was taken that these bodies would continue their agitation till a lasting solution is found to their long-pending demands.

“After our one-day fast, we will be giving a 10-day deadline to the CM to address all our issues. If he does address all our issues, well and good. Otherwise, he will have it,” Mr Jai Kishen said.

He said that there was a long list of safai karamcharis (sweepers) who have not been regularised so far. “Many vacancies for SC/STs and other OBCs were lying vacant in different departments. Even the government was taking back land from the poor who had allotted it by the Congress government in the past.”

The front was going to take its fight for the poor to the logical end, Mr Jai Kishen added. “We will be devising our strategy this week only. Once our strategy is in place, then only we will hit the roads.”