Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has called for an all-party meeting on the second round of ongoing protest by tea estate workers of Munnar.
Talking to mediapersons in Aluva, he charged the government with colluding with the estate owners against the protesting workers. He said the very slogan shouted by the women workers — that while they toiled, money was being minted by the estate owners — was indicative of the exploitation taking place there. The government should not turn its back on their protest, he said, and asked male workers to join hands with the women in solidarity. Meanwhile, AITUC State working committee has sought urgent government intervention to hike the minimum wages of plantation labourers to Rs.500.
