Correspondents
Bongaigaon: “Train movement throughout India may stop if the government does not leave its conspiracy to privatize Indian Railways,” said Rakhal Das Gupta, president of All India Railwaymen’s Federation and general secretary of North East Frontier Railway Mazdoor Union, on Wednesday in Bongaigaon during the protest against Railway privatization staged throughout the country at the call of AIRF.
“This is our initial step. If the government does not stop here, then we will be compelled to adopt the path of nationwide railway strike and to stop the wheels of trains throughout India,” he said.
Along with the other parts of India, this protest was observed in Bongaigaon and New Bongaigaon also by NFRMU Bongaigaon, New Bongaigaon Workshops, New Bongaigaon BG and Running branch. In this regard, a massive bike rally was taken out from Bongaigaon branch premises which moved through the town and culminated at New Bongaigaon Railway station. A mass meeting was held there where several noted persons, including Ashish Biswas, joint general secretary of NFRMU, were present.
Addressing the gathering, Ashish Biswas said that this privatization of Railway would not only affect the employees but also the common people. “Fares will increase, extra charge will be imposed everywhere and employment will decrease. So we should together protest against this privatization,” he said.
TINSUKIA: The NFR Mazdoor Union (NFRMU) organized mass protest at various divisions of NF Railway along with the rest of the country on Monday against privatization of Indian Railways and running of passenger trains by private undertakings. Several trade union leaders, while condemning the anti-labour policy of BJP government, demanded immediate halt to privatization and withdrawal of new pension policy.