Members of the two party unions sloganeered against each other’s leaders after emerging out of the meeting
An injured worker pleads for help
Chennai: Political animosity between the DMK and AIADMK showed its ugly face as stone pelting and bloodshed overshadowed Monday’s wage revision talks between the state government and transport workers’ trade unions despite the dialogue heading in the right direction.
Initially, members of the two party unions sloganeered against each other’s leaders after emerging out of the meeting in which the government was learnt to have responded ‘positively’ to the union’s demands.
The sloganeering took a violent turn after both party union members hurled stones at each other. Before the police and by standers there took stock of the situation all hell broke loose as it was raining stones on both ends. The police had to use mild force to chase away the quarreling comrades who were also silenced by their leaders.
“We had no issue with AIADMK union. The talks went smoothly and government responded positively to most of our demands. The problem was only between the VCK union and its breakaway faction.
“One among them hurled stone and it hit AIADMK men. They mistook and hurled stones as us and hence the resultant melee,” LPF general secretary M Shanmugam said, adding that the wage factors would be discussed in the next round of talks on March 12 and the government has responded favourably to some old demands that were assured in the previous agreement.
“We are not involved in any of it. The talks went well,” said CPM backed CITU transport employee’s union secretary N. Chandran. Two persons injured in the stone-pelting incident were admitted to RGGGH. No case has been booked thus far.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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