Haryana industrial belt hit by workers' strike

Workers' unions in the Gurgaon-Manesar-Bawal belt in Haryana went on a day long strike today to protest the death of a young worker on Sunday. The agitation was marred by violence, that saw an angry mob beat up a senior official of an auto component maker.

Auto component maker Rico Auto, whose worker was killed during a group clash on Sunday, reported zero attendance, as did companies including Rico Auto and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI). Maruti Suzuki India said its operations were not affected.

"Over 100,000 workers are participating and over 70 factories have been affected," claimed All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Gurgaon District Secretary Suresh Gaud, who is leading the agitation.

The strike began on a violent note at Rico Auto, the epicentre of the worker's unrest, when employees manhandled the company's Deputy General Manager Sanjiv Arya at the entrance of the company's facility in Gurgaon this morning.

"The situation is volatile and lots of striking workers have gathered outside the gate. Arya was beaten up in the presence of the police," Rico Auto Vice President (Human Resources) S S Choudhary claimed.

The one-day strike was called by the Trade Union Council, an umbrella group led by the AITUC.

Among the major auto makers, HMSI's factories have been affected by the strike, while Hero Honda officials could not be contacted.

"Workers are boycotting work and have joined the procession, though the general office staff have reported for duty. The assembly lines are not working," a senior Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) official said.     

However, work has not been affected at the facilities of the country's largest car maker MSI.

"Our employees are not part of the strike. There is hundred per cent attendance and no downslide in production," a MSI spokesperson said.

Besides the big auto manufacturers and components makers, the Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt also houses many textile producers and export houses.