BJP sets up BEST union to rival its ally Shiv Sena’s
PUNE: Terming his security guards inefficient and lax, social activist Anna Hazare has asked the state government to withdraw his security.
“I am not afraid of death. Security guards are not in a position to stop my death,” Hazare said, in a letter written to the home secretary.
Hazare’s security was upgraded to Z category after he received a threatening letter a few weeks after the murder of Communist leader Govind Pansare last year.
The social activist has complained about the security guards provided for him. He has said that his bodyguards are often seen talking on mobile phones and they do not bother to accompany him everywhere he goes.
“Be it my morning work or any journey, they do not look alert,” Hazare has said.
Terming the bodyguards indisciplined, Hazare said he does feel it appropriate to incur expenses on his security.
Hazare, who has received 14 threatening letters, has made it clear that he would be responsi MUMBAI: The ruling Shiv SENABJP alliance is likely to clash with each other again. This time, for control over employees in one of the city’s oldest establishments — Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).
The BJP has set up BJP BEST Kamagar Sangh, which is seen as a threat to the Shiv Sena-affiliated union BEST Kamagar Sena, which has a sizeable following.
Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar, who has not let go of a single opportunity to take a dig at the Sena in the recent past, is among the union’s chief advisors, while advocate Prashant Sane, who has unearthed several scams in the undertaking, is its legal advisor. Led by Shivajirao Patil, who is active in the labour union for the past five-seven years, the BJP union started its membership drive last week. The union has put up posters at every depot and has been circulating handouts among BEST workers, much to the Sena union’s chagrin.
BEST’S transport wing has more than 35,000 workers. The Sena-affiliated BEST Kamgar Sena is the second-largest union after the BEST Workers’ Union, which was formed by former defence minister George Fernandes and headed by Sharad Rao. While BEST Workers’ Union has its loyal members, the Sena and Bjpaffiliated unions are trying to win over the rest.
The union has assured it will take up long pending issues such
terised duty planner), bonus and ex-gratia amount, newly created junior and senior grades and differences in pay scale. “The duty planner is being implemented against the worker’s will and it is also proving to be a financial burden. So we will take up it first,” said Deepak Sawant, an office-bearer of the union Sources in other
union won’t be able to negotiate with the administration as per the Bombay Industrial Regulation) Act because the BEST Worker’s Union is the only recognised labour union in the establishment’s traffic wing.
A BEST committee member said the BJP union will not able to make any difference as the undertaking’s financial situation