Shimla, May 30: The Himachal Pradesh State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has strongly condemned the police detention of CITU leaders during a protest by Saheb Society employees in Shimla and demanded their immediate release.
In a statement issued on Friday, CPI(M) State Secretary Sanjay Chauhan said that every citizen has a constitutional right to peacefully protest and raise issues concerning their livelihood and welfare. He termed the police action "undemocratic and unconstitutional" and alleged that the Municipal Corporation administration was attempting to suppress the ongoing agitation of Saheb Society employees through coercive measures.
Chauhan warned that if the detained CITU leaders are not released immediately, and if the dismissed employees are not reinstated and their demands remain unaddressed, CPI(M) will openly support the workers' movement and participate in future protests.
The dispute dates back to an agitation launched by the Saheb Society Employees Union against the Municipal Corporation Shimla over alleged cuts in annual wage increments traditionally granted to workers. During that agitation, services of 41 employees were terminated.
According to CPI(M), the Municipal Corporation administration and the employees' union had subsequently reached an agreement, under which the workers' demands, including the reinstatement of the terminated employees, were accepted. However, the party alleges that the administration has failed to properly implement the agreed terms, forcing the employees' union to resume its agitation.
The CPI(M) has urged the Municipal Corporation Shimla administration to immediately restore the services of the dismissed workers and fully implement the commitments made under the earlier agreement.
"The administration must honour the settlement reached with the workers and ensure justice for the affected employees," Chauhan said.
