Several political parties on Tuesday pledged their support to journalists and non-journalists who staged a day-long dharna across the country to protest against the “delay” in notification of the Wage Boards for them and promised to raise the issue in Parliament.
Senior leaders of the BJP, the CPI(M), the CPI and the JD(U) alleged that the government was “dithering” on the issue as “it wants to serve the interests of corporate houses while leaving journalists to fend for themselves.”
The dharna was organised by the Confederation of Newspaper and News Agency Employees' Organisations (CNNAEO).
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Addressing the protesters, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said the government had no political will to implement the recommendations of the Wage Board it constituted. He said his party would raise their demands in Parliament during the monsoon session. CPI(M)'s Tapan Sen and Nilotpal Basu echoed his views.
CPI national secretary D. Raja said the UPA government was not sticking to its commitment and that his party would be with the protesters in their “difficult times.”
Congress MP from Kishanganj Maulana Ashrarul Haq justified the demand of journalists and non-journalists for salary hike and promised to raise the issue in Parliament.
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Major trade unions, including the CITU, the All-India Central Council of Trade Unions, the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and the Hind Mazdoor Sangh supported the stir.
Mediapersons held dharnas in Mumbai, Kolkata, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Mizoram, Goa, Chennai, Kerala, Karnataka, Lucknow, Dehra Dun, Jaipur and Chandigarh.
CNNAEO general secretary M.S. Yadav warned the government that if the Majithia Wage Boards' recommendations were not notified in another 10 days, employees would intensify their agitation