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Autorickshaws, tempos keep off the road

Special Correspondent

Workers and union leaders held for blocking rail, road traffic

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

STRIKING GATHERING: Autorickshaw owners and drivers, affiliated to the CITU, courted arrest when they staged a road roko in Puduchery on Thursday.

Puducherry: Autorickshaws and tempos went off the road on Thursday in Puducherry in response to a strike called by trade unions owing allegiance to the Left parties in support of their charter of demands.

Scores of union activists courted arrest at various points either when they tried to block rail and road traffic in and around the town limits.

Among those who were arrested included the Communist Party of India (CPI) legislator, R. Viswanathan, the party's secretary in Puducherry N. Kalainathan, general secretary of the AITUC V.S. Abishegam, farmers and farm labourers unions' leaders. Members of the joint action committee of all trade unions of the autorickshaw owners and drivers courted arrest when they attempted to stage a road roko at Pattanikadai junction.

The secretary of the CITU-led Auto Drivers' Union G. Srinivasan and president of Auto Owners' Union Manivannan were among those who were held.

A release from the Puducherry unit of All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) said that a large number of their members were held for picketing at various points.

Police pickets were posted at all vantage points including the Municipal Bus terminal at Orleanpet.

Town and inter-State buses, however, operated normally. Police sources said that no incident was reported from any part of Puducherry.

Government employees held a dharna at the Head Post Office to push their charter of demands. A release from the committee said that among other things they wanted implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission report from January 2006, interim relief of Rs.1,000, continuation of pension scheme without any change, protection to workers in the unorganised sector and to ensure adequate implementation of land reforms Bill.

The JIPMER Staff Struggle committee took out a rally and held a dharna at Head Post Office. Members of Central Federation of State Government Employees held a dharna separately at Gandhi Thidal.

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