Different organisations staged demonstration in nagaon

Thursday was a day of protests in Nagaon town. Assam State Power Workers’ Union, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) Nagaon unit and Sadou Axom Harijan Mazdoor Union, Nagaon unit staged separate demonstrations in against different issues on Thursday morning.

The activists of the Assam State Power Workers’ Union staged demonstration, demanded for the revision of the pay scale of the board employees. The activists raised slogans against the Chairman & ASEB management and demanded for the revision of pay package. They alleged that the management has not done any revision of pay since 1997. In the press release they stated that on June 3, 2010 the board has assured the ASPWU of implementing the revised pay package for the employees of the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) within 45 days. As the authorities have failed to respond to their demand, the union decided for the agitation. ASPWU also mentioned if the authorities didn’t respond to them, the workers would go six-hour token hunger strike on August 10.

On the other hand, the activists of Axom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) of Nagaon unit also staged sit in demonstration in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office in Nagaon on Thursday from 10.30 am. The activists demanded for the immediate inquiry of the recent scam of Irrigation department in Nagaon which came to limelight when a journalist Munidra Saikia filed a petition of public interest litigation before the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court vide order no PIL-85 of 2009 and also asked for CBI inquiry of the corruption in the irrigation department in Nagaon district. The journalist also lodged an FIR related with the scam in Nagaon police station and a case (no – 917/2010) was registered. The general secretary of AJYCP Nagaon unit Prabir Ch. Das told Eastern Chronicle “ We have a doubt that there may be some political leaders involved with scam which led to the sudden halt of the investigation process. We want a free & fair investigation; and not be under political influence.” The activists, who staged demonstration for more than 2 hours, later submitted a memorandum to the chief minister of Assam through the deputy commissioner of Nagaon.

The members of Sadou Axom Harijan Mazdoor Union of Nagaon unit also staged agitation in front of the Nagaon Municipality Board. The union demanded for the new revised minimum wages for the Harijan Mazdoors in Nagaon. The mazdoors protested with raising various slogans against the Chairman of Nagaon municipality Board. “ The chairman promised us to give a suitable decision on August 3rd related with the implementation of the revised pay of Harizan Mazdoors. But till date he remained silent”, as alleged by a member of the union. The protesters further told the media that they would remain off from their duty if the government Municipality board denied to accept their demand.