Chandigarh, April 22, 2011: The relay hunger strike started by The Tribune Employees Union entered its 16th day today. The three members of the union led by Finance Secretary of the union Mr. Rajesh Malik, Mr. Raj Kumar Sharma and Mr. Vipin Joshi will remain on hunger strike for 24 hours from Saturday. Dharna (sit in protest) of the union also entered in 24th day today.
Earlier, the four members of the union led by Joint Secretary of the union Mr. Ramesh Chand, Satish Kumar, Lovepreet Singh and Arun Sharma were on 24-hours hunger strike from Friday morning. It is pertinent to mention here that the union has demanded an independent probe in to corrupt practices in The Tribune, action against head administration Mr. MPS Kahlon for misbehavior with woman journalists and revoking suspension union leaders, executive members and active members of the union.More than 5 dozen unions and organizations of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana, including Federation of U.T. Employees & Workers, Chandigarh, N.T.U.I. Punjab and Chandigarh, Indian Council for Child Welfare Employees Union Chandigarh, Punjab State Board Corporation Mahasangh Chandigarh and Chandigarh Subordinate Services Federation, U.T. Chandigarh have decided to support and participate in the “Maharally” to be held on April 26, 2011 (Tuesday ) at 12.00 pm. opposite Tribune Sector 29 Chandigarh. Various Kisan unions of this region and many other organizations have assured their support and participation in Maharally”in a big way.
Teachers of Panjab University, Chandigarh, have also sent a representation to the Tribune Trust showing their resentment against the high-handedness on the part of the management. Dr. Sudarshan Gasso, General Secretary Haryana Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha and Dr. R.P. Sharma Head, Department of Psychology, G.M.N. College, Ambala Cantt. Have also written a letter to the Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune and asked “if journalists are on road, who will struggle for an ‘Aam Aadami’ (a common man).” A large number of members from Haryana Federation of University and Colleges Teachers Organizations also visited the dharna and supported the union.