This Article is From Apr 08, 2022

Protests Outside Sharad Pawar's House, Daughter Supriya Sule Surrounded

Thousands of MSRTC workers have been on strike since November last year demanding that they be treated on par with the state government employees and that the cash-strapped transport corporation be merged with the government.

Around 100 workers of the MSRTC held a protest outside Sharad Pawar's home in South Mumbai.

Mumbai:

NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter and MP Supriya Sule found herself mobbed by a group of protesters from the state transport unit outside his home on Friday with reports saying that some of them misbehaved with her.

Around 100 workers of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) held a protest outside Mr Pawar's home in South Mumbai, shouting slogans against the veteran politician, accusing him of ignoring their demand of making the MSRTC a full government unit.

"They are being misled. ST employees and we've a very old relationship, in last 40-50 yers I've not missed any session with them. This time protest was shown wrong path and result of that is an incident of today," news agency ANI quoted Sharad Pawar as saying.

The police have filed cases against 105 people under different sections of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the protest outside Mr Pawar's residence.

Thousands of MSRTC workers have been on strike since November last year demanding that they be treated on par with the state government employees and that the cash-strapped transport corporation be merged with the government.

The protest comes a day after the Bombay High Court asked the striking workers of the transport corporation to resume duty by April 22.

Following the court order, state Transport Minister Anil Parab had assured that no action would be taken against those workers who rejoin duty by the deadline set by the High Court.

The employees reached 'Silver Oak', the residence of Mr Pawar in Mumbai, in the afternoon and shouted slogans against him.

Some employees even threw slippers and shoes at his house.

"Some 120 MSRTC employees have died by suicide during the strike. These are not suicides, but murders of the state policy. We are firm on our demand of merger of the MSRTC with the state government. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has not done anything to resolve the issue," an agitating employee of the MSRTC told news agency PTI.

"We respect the decision of the Bombay High Court given yesterday, but we were discussing the issues with the state government, which has been elected by the people. This elected government did nothing for us. Chanakya of this government - Sharad Pawar - is also responsible for our losses," said another protesting employee of the MSRTC.

Mr Pawar is considered the chief architect of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, was formed in November 2019.

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