Pondicherry: With the ministerial staff continuing their indefinite strike, a number of political parties coming under a common banner of `Action Committee' criticised the stir, describing it as "highly objectionable and unjustified".

The employees have been on strike since the past nearly two months demanding upward revision of the emoluments of the clerks and assistants and also restructuring of the posts.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday the convenor of the committee and president of the Pondicherry unit of Tamizhar Desiya Iyakkam R Alagiri said that the committee noted with concern at its meeting the continued strike by the employees. If the demands were genuine and fair none would have any objection. But disturbing the work in the departments and also implementation of various welfare schemes since December last year was totally unjustified.

He said a meeting of the leaders of the parties constituting the committee adopted resolutions at the meeting on Thursday condemning the strike and also decided to move the Madras High court through a public interest litigation petition to seeking a ban on the strike in the larger interest of welfare of the people.

K.Sugumaran, president of the Federation of People`s Rights, said that it was indeed a pity that the government had not done anything to bring the strike to an end.

There should be a practical approach on the part of the employees without yearning for the impossible.

The joint action committee had also planned to burn an effigy of Lt Governor at Pattanikadai junction here on February 20 as a mark of protest against the "failure of the government to find solution to the strike".

Propaganda

The committee would also take out mobile propaganda to condemn the strike and to bring to focus the serious implications of the agitation.

The delegates of parties and associations who attended the meeting were from Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, Meenavar Viduthalai Vengaigal, Puratchialar Ambedkar Thondar Padai, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Coordination committee of SC and ST Employees in civic bodies, Social Justice forum and Sendamizhar Iyakkam a release issued by Alagiri at the press conference.

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