Excise inspectors observe flash stir

VADODARA, Oct 5: Around 200 superintendents and inspectors of the Central Excise and Customs went on a flash strike on Monday in support of their counterparts in Rajkot, who are demanding the transfer of one of the assistant commissioners of the excise department for allegedly using unparliamentary language last week.

However, according to senior officials of excise department, some excise staff members of Rajkot, who were assigned the responsibility of arranging taxis for visiting members of the Parliamentary Advisory Committee, failed to arrange for vehicles on time, provoking one of the assistant commissioners to call their names. They said senior superintendents and inspectors then went on an indefinite strike demanding that the officer in question be transferred out of Gujarat or be asked to go on a long leave.

When contacted, Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs S K Bhardwaj said the agitating employees8217; demand was not justified as the words used by the official were not offensive as made out to be by the employees.

While stating that employees in Vadodara had not give any prior notice for going on strike, he claimed work was not affected as other categories of employees reported for duty.