Joshi Warns Police On Aiding The Mafia

Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi yesterday warned that police personnel found aiding and abetting mafia gang lords in the workers movement would be suspended with immediate effect.

Speaking at the annual general body meeting of Bharatiya Kamgar Sena (BKS), the workers wing of Shiv Sena, Joshi said industrial peace was very much vital for the development of the state and to achieve this, erring police officials would be dealt with sternly.

Policemens job is to maintain law and order and they should do it impartially, he said.

The Chief Minister observed that there were 112 strikes and about 36,000 workers participated in them since the Sena-BJP alliance government came to power in the state, compared to the 300 strikes with 83,100 workers in 1986 during the previous regime.

Joshi, who is associated with the BKS since its inception, said that the philosophy of the organisation was equal participation of owners and workers and to achieve industrial peace through negotiations and not resorting to strikes.

The New Bombay Industrial Relation Act (BIRA) would be beneficial for the workers as well as for the industries, he said adding that workers demands would be considered at a joint committee meeting soon.