Protesting civic body staff seeks release in 24 hours

LUDHIANA: Municipal corporation offices wore a deserted look on Wednesday as all employees sat on a dharna in front of Zone a office and demanded release of assistant commissioner Amarjit Singh Sekhon, who was arrested on charges of graft on Tuesday. Residents could not get their works done as a result.
The employees also locked the corporation office.
MC house members were busy in an emergency meeting regarding the issue. Employees alleged that they were pressured politically to do certain works and if they opposed that, ''tactics'', like those used against Sekhon, were adopted to corner them.
They lifted the dharna only after mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura gave them his assurance. They gave an ultimatum to the mayor that Sekhon should be released from police custody inside 24 hours.
The employees have decided to assemble in Zone A office again on Thursday where they would announce postponement of their strike till completion of the police inquiry that is on in the case.
President of Municipal Karamchari Dal Laxman Dravid said there was too much pressure on the employees and it was difficult for them to work.
He added that no officer in Zone C office was willing to work because of the pressure created by councillors.
''We are suspending our strike for now,'' he added.
Mukesh Hans, a visitor in the MC office said, ''I have been coming to MC office for the past one week and it was on Wednesday that the officer was supposed to sign my documents. Due to this strike, my work could not be completed.''
Another visitor, Krunesh Garg, said it was unjustified for employees to stop work because it created problems for other people who were not even aware of their reason for protest.