Falcon tyre employees launch indefinite stir in city

Mysuru: Demanding intervention of the government to ensure the revival of Falcon Tyres in the city, Falcon Tyres Employees Union launched an indefinite stir in front of the DC’s office, here, on Monday.

The protesters alleged that the management of the company had not extended PF and ESI facility to the employees and has failed to pay its share to the cooperative society of the factory. Several employees have not been paid wages since five months, they said.
They contended that even though there was enough resources to continue production, the management was not showing interest to invest in the factory. Production has been stalled from three months, which has threatened the livelihood of 2,500 employees and their families, the protesters said.

The State government must intervene and ensure that the company continues production, they added.

Prior to the protest, the employees took out a rally from Ramaswamy Circle to the DC’s office, raising slogans against the management of the company. The government should direct the management to hand it over to others entrepreneurs, if it cannot run the company. It should ensure that pending salaries of all employees are paid immediately, they added. MP Prathap Simha, who visited the spot, assured to sort out the problems, by holding discussion with the Centre and State governments.

Dalit protests

Condemning the recent streak of attacks against members of Dalit community, Dalit Sangarsha Samithi, staged a protest in Mysuru, on Monday. The protesters demanded the arrest of those who were harassing Dalits.

The protestors alleged that three Dalits were murdered in the region during the past few days. Krishnaiah and Nanjaiah, residents of Deshavalli in Chamarajanagar district were hacked to death. Similarly, Basavaraju, a resident of Maadralli in T Narsipur taluk was also murdered. This indicates that members of Dalit community are being targeted. Action should be initiated against the culprits, they demanded.

Against excise duty

Bar owners of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, under the aegis of Federation of Wine Merchants Association of Karnataka, staged a demonstration urging the State government to withdraw its recent decision to hike excise duty. In the recent Budget, the State has imposed an additional 5.5 per cent Value Added Tax for select licensees.
Similarly, profit margin for retail dealers, which was 20 per cent, has been reduced. Both the decisions should be withdrawn, they demanded.