NASHIK, Nov 7: Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde today set a deadline of one week for the Sakhar Sangh to begin talks on the strike by sugarcane harvest workers, failing which he threatened to invoke the provisions of the Mathadi Workers' Act.Talking to mediapersons this evening, Munde said the Sangh, representing the managements of sugar cooperatives in the state, had taken an adamant stand on the strike, refusing to come to the negotiating table until the existing four-year agreement expired in October 1999. He alleged it was because Congressman Babanrao Dhakane had made it a prestige issue, being president of the Sangh.Munde said the government was willing to form a tripartite committee - comprising representatives of the government, the union and the Sangh - to initiate negotiations on workers' wages. The government, he said, could not remain a mute spectator to the issue since the crushing season was delayed due to the strike. If the Sangh did not start negotiations within a week, theprovisions of the Mathadi Workers Act would be made applicable, he warned.Munde pointed out a majority of the striking workers were from his constituency Beed, adding he sympathised with them. He too was affected by the strike, he said, as his brother was chairman of a sugar cooperative and cane crushing operations were on hold.Munde said the government was willing to start negotiations on Sunday to end the stalemate, provided the Sangh agreed to participate. The leaders of the Sangh, he alleged, were more interested in blaming the government than ending the impasse.On the law and order situation in the state, Munde said the latest shootout in Bandra was ``serious'' as innocent citizens were injured in the crossfire. He said an extensive campaign against organised crime would be launched and that he would visit all the commissionerate areas in the state in the next ten days to review the situation.Speaking on the government's move to frame a new law, he said the legislation would increasepunishment for organised crime, extortion, threats conveyed on the telephone and would eliminate loopholes in the law. Anticipatory bail would be denied for repeated offences.The draft was ready and awaiting the governor's nod, he added.
