The Railways have deliberately ignored locals8217;

The bandh call was given to protest rampant irregularities in the recruitment of trade apprentices. Though we brought the irregularities to the notice of the railway administration, there was no positive response. Under such circumstances, the Samiti had no alternative but to givea call for bandh. The bandh was total.

What is the nature of the irregularities8217;?

We feel locals were completely ignored at the time of recruitment. As per my information, the department had called 4,300 persons for the written test. Out of these, 103 were selected. Our grievance is that less than 43 of the finally selected candidates were locals, while the rest were from out of Maharashtra. It was also found that a section of the selected candidates did not submit their domicile certificates as required under the Trade Apprentice Act. I think this is blatantly illegal, and officials responsible for selection of such candidates should be taken to task.

Was the examination process fair and impartial?

There are reasons to believe it was partial. By and large, supervisors for the examination were former office-bearers of the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh or the National Railway Mazdoor Union. In that event, the administration should have included office-bearers of the Sthaniya LokadhikarSamiti. Secondly, I was shocked over the non-selection of candidates who were specially trained by the Samiti. The Samiti had conducted a special coaching camp for aspirants. Out of the 550 students who were trained, not a single one was selected.

What is your demand now?

We have demanded cancellation of the entire examination. Alternatively, we feel that at least 80 per cent of the locals 8212; Marathi-speaking people 8212; should be selected for the three-year training programme.

What will be your course of action if your demand is not accepted?

We are hopeful of a positive solution, since both Union Minister of State for Railways Ram Naik and Chief Minister Narayan Rane have assured us that they will look into the grievances. In fact, Rane, has convened a meeting of state government and Railway officials to discuss our demands.

According to reports, the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti launched the agitation since the administration refused to abide by the quota system in the process ofrecruitment?

I am not aware of any quota system in the recruitment process. We felt great injustice had been done to locals, so we decided to launch an agitation.

Since the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti is not a recognised trade union, what is its locus standi in making the demands? What was the role of the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh and the National Railway Mazdoor Union in your agitation?

Certainly, the Samiti is not a recognised trade union. It was set up to protect the interests of locals. The response to the demands made by the Samiti in public sector banks, which had completely ignored locals, has been very encouraging. So far as the role of the CRMS and NRMU is concerned, I have no comments. However, as per my information, cutting across party lines, all the workers extended their support to the agitation.

On the one hand, the Sena is spreading all over the country, while on the other, you are fighting for the cause of locals. Will it have an adverse impact on theorganisation?

It is true that the Shiv Sena was set up to fight for the cause of sons of the soil. After two decades, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has given a call for protection of the Hindu religion in the larger interests of the country. But it does not mean we have disrespect for other religions. In the recent past, several prominent members of other communities have either joined our movement or extended full support to it. Under such circumstances, though we have spread our activities across the length and breadth of the country, we have not given up our original cause for which the Sena was set up. We have a right to demand jobs for locals in Maharashtra. We are not asking for jobs in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh.

Will such agitations, particularly in favour of one or the other community, adversely affect the Shiv Sena?

I don8217;t think we will face such a situation. In fact, now people from all walks of life have upheld the ideology propounded by Thackeray.