Sanitation workers accuse CM, PM of being indifferent to their problems

NEW DELHI: Sanitation workers of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation on Monday gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest salary delays, and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of being indifferent to their problems. The EDMC workers, gathered under the banner of the Swachhata Karmachari Union (SKU), demanded that the state and central governments immediately release their salaries, pensions and clear the arrears.

The EDMC workers are on strike over regular payment of salaries and regularisation of jobs, leading to a pile of garbage mounting up in the region.

Delhi Congress' president Ajay Maken strongly condemned the brutal lathi-charge by Delhi Police on sanitation workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation, who were heading for a peaceful sit-in protest at Sansad Marg, on Monday.

Maken said that the lathi-charge on the sanitation workers at the direction of the BJP Government at the Centre was not only undemocratic, but was also a violation of the human rights. He said that the EDMC sanitation workers have been on protest strike for the past 27 days, but instead of finding a solution to the strike, the BJP-ruled Central Government and the Municipal Corporations of Delhi have been indulging in coercive methods, which was clearly evident from the lath-charge on the sanitation workers.

Delhi government is ready to provide any support to the corporations so that it works properly and can pay the sanitation workers, said Delhi's Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam.

The sanitation workers' strike reached the 27th day and on the issue of fund Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal slammed the Centre on Monday. Last week, the Delhi government had claimed that it had released Rs 770 crore to the EDMC in less than six months of the current financial year.

SKU member Anil Kumar said: "Kejriwal uses broomstick as a party symbol only for votes. This is the reality. He does not care about sanitation workers."

"PM rime Minister Narendra Modi gives crores of rupees to Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya and helps them to escape the country, but he struggles hard to pay our monthly salaries," he charged. The sanitation workers have been on a strike since September 12, leading to a pile-up of garbage in localities falling under the EDMC.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that it cannot release funds to East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) for payment of salaries to sanitation workers who are on strike. The Apex court asked the Centre to file an affidavit stating the same. On the other hand, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has informed SC that it has already released Rs 500 crore to the civic body.