Power staff stage protest, seek roll-back of penal action
The protesters demanded that the UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) management roll back penal action launched against power employees and UP Rajya Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti leaders.
Lucknow: A large number of energy sector and state government employees staged a demonstration under the aegis of their newly formed joint forum here on Friday, to demand quashing of FIRs lodged against power staff and their leaders during the recent 72-hour strike.
They also announced dharna and demonstration for two hours in all the districts in the state on March 28.
Many employees of the energy sector, government departments and local bodies and their leaders gathered in Sarojni Naidu Park here and shouted slogans, demanding that the UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) management roll back penal action launched against power employees and UP Rajya Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti leaders.
“Before power employees agreed to end their 72-hour strike before time on March 19, energy minister AK Sharma on camera promised that he had directed UPPCL chairman to take steps to undo the action done against striking staff and their leaders,” the joint forum leaders said.
“But instead of undoing the action, the management continues to take fresh penal action against them with a sense of vengeance,” they alleged, warning of a bigger agitation if justice was not done.
All-India Power Engineers Federation chairman Shailendra Dubey, in the meantime, has demanded a probe into irregularities in the process of appointment of 14 energy sector directors.
“The energy minister had to cancel the process on Thursday and now officers responsible for shortlisting ineligible candidates must be punished,” he demanded.