Pargat intervenes, Jalandhar civic body staffers suspend strike

JALANDHAR: Sanitation workers and other staffers of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation (JMC) suspended their strike on Thursday following intervention of Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh. They were on strike to demand release of salaries and revocation of suspension of nine officials of the building branch of Jalandhar civic body.
Congress MLA Pargat, however, made it clear again that no official found guilty in the detailed inquiry would be spared.The workers also said they would not support any corrupt officials and there should be fair probe into all 93 cases of illegal colonies, which had been developed or constructed against building bylaws.
While the other staffers of the MC were on strike for the last over one week, the sanitation workers joined on Thursday. As Pargat was going to the JMC office, they asked him to listen to their grievances. He assured that their meeting would be arranged with local bodies minster Navjot Singh Sidhu and till then they should suspend the strike.
Addressing the striking officials and employees, Pargat said he also wanted that their salaries should be released on first day of every month, especially in case of Class IV employees. However, he pointed out that the MC was running short of funds and alleged some officials and employees, especially those of building branch, were pocketing bribe in place of adding to the civic body’s income by charging the mandatory fee or fines.
After his assertions, leader of the sanitation workers also said they would not support any corrupt officials but they only wanted fair probe. Later, Pargat also attended a meeting in which Jalandhar mayor Jagdish Raj Raja, senior MC officials and representatives of different departments also participated.
He told the officials of the building branch to give correct reports in all 93 cases. As a few officials hinted at political pressure he asked not to heed to any pressure as ultimately they would be facing action in case of any wrongdoing.