Cong bigwigs join bidi workers dharna

MUMBAI, Sept 28: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sharad Pawar joined the bidi workers of the state in a dharna pressing for their various demands including hike in their minimum wages, and pledged support on behalf of Congress party to their cause.

Speaking on the occasion held at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, Pawar said that the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party Government had gone back on its word in 1997 where it had promised that the minimum wages of bidi workers would be increased. He said bidi factory owners should also be present during talks with the state government to discuss the issue as it is they (owners) who will agree with the implementation of the revised minimum wages. He said the agitation would be intensified if justice was not done to the four lakh workers. “If the government does not take a decision soon, we will throw the government into the Arabian Sea”, he added. Pawar was joined by Leaders of Opposition in the State Legislature Madhukarrao Pichad and Chhagan Bhujbal.

Later,talking to reporters Pawar said the state government was delaying the implementation of Fifth Pay Commission even when there is already a budgetary provision of Rs 5000 crore for the same. Since 1978, the Pay Commission recommendations have been implemented in toto at the Centre as well as the states. Replying to another question, he said the President K R Narayanan asking the Union Cabinet to reconsider its recommendation of imposing President’s Rule in Bihar was a slap on the face of the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre. Bhujbal said the decision to support the bidi workers agitation was taken by the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee at its meeting today. Pichad participated in the dharna since morning, while Bhujbal and Pawar joined them for half an hour in the afternoon.