The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Fond farewell to Chalasani Gandhi

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Fond farewell to Chalasani Gandhi

Special Correspondent

. — Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam.

All India Railwaymen’s Federation assistant general secretary Chalasani Gandhi and his wife being felicitated at a function organised by ECoR Shramik Union in Visakhapatnam on Thursday

VISAKHAPATNAM: Veteran trade union leader Chalasani Gandhi was felicitated at a glittering function organised by East Coast Railway Shramik Union here on Thursday evening.

The occasion was the retirement of the noted leader who held posts in the All India Railway Federation (AIRF) which were earlier donned by such stalwarts as Madhu Dandavate and George Fernandes, on attaining superannuation after serving as chief pharmacist in the railway hospital here.

Former MP MVVS Murthy said it was a matter of pride that a Telugu man could lead the fire-brand Bengali leaders in the railway trade union movement for long.

Now that he had retired, Mr. Gandhi would devote full time for working class and achieve the long-felt demand of a separate zone for Visakhapatnam, he hoped.

Another former MP, `Padmashree’ Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad said he could take up railway issues in the Rajya Sabha with the guidance of the veteran leader. Former Mayor Rajana Ramani recalled his help in winning her mayor election in the past while CPI (M) leader Ch. Narasinga Rao recalled his six-week stay along with Mr. Gandhi in Czechoslovakia while attending world trade union conference.

He urged the railway union leader to lead future movements against privatisation which the railways is threatened with.

Among others who praised Mr. Gandhi were BJP leader J. Prithviraj, Virasam member Chalasani Prasad, and corporator G.V. Ravi Raju. Divisional Coordinator of the union D. Shaleel who presided said that the occasion was only a shashtiabdapurti and not retirement as Mr. Gandhi would continue in his position as general secretary of the union.

She recalled his services for inspiring women to join the trade union movement and cited her own example of securing the top position as chairperson of national railway women employees’ wing of AIRF.

Quite a large number of women were present in the huge gathering that feted the trade union leader.

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