NTPC executives to join strike later today

Supporting the oil sector officers' strike, NTPC executives are all set to join the stir by this evening, if the government does not agree to their demand of higher wages.

"We have started our agitation by staging 'Dharna' at all establishments of NTPC this morning. We are evaluating the situations. If government does not agree to our demand of pay revision, we would go on an indefinite strike by this evening," NTPC Executive Federation of India President Rakesh Pandey told PTI.

Pandey said, "Since, we have not called staff working at control rooms, the work is not affected so far. We fully support the strike by Oil Sector Officers Association."

"The government would have to implement recommendations of pay revision committee in toto. These demands are justified. What is wrong if we are demanding for more autonomy for board and remuneration at par with any performer in the private sector."

However, when contacted by PTI, NTPC Chairman and Managing Director R S Sharma denied any possibility of executives going on strike this evening. "I don't think so. We are talking to them. I don't see any such possibility of officers going on strike by this evening."

"I don't even want to appeal to them through media. Our talks are still open and we enjoy direct communication. We are ready to discuss any issue. This can not happen in NTPC," Sharma added.

Earlier, the NTPC Executive Federation of Indian planned to go on an indefinite strike from February 25. In order to caution the authorities of consequence, the Federation had decided a day long token strike on February 17.