Report received from Shri Gireesh S, General Secretary BEML Employees Association
(English translation of report in Malayalam)
Shri PK Sasi (Ex. MLA) inaugurated the programme to mark the 500th day of the indefinite agitation by workers of BEML, Palakkad unit against the Central Government’s decision to sell BEML under the Ministry of Defence.
On May 19 and 20, workers took out a referendum at the Civil Station, KSRTC, Stadium Bus Stand, Kanchikode, Head Post Office and Olavakkode Railway Station in Palakkad district against the decision of the central government to sell BEML, a strategic institution. The BEML Employees Association had announced that it would end the indefinite strike if the referendum was in favour of the central government, and demanded that the central government withdraw its sale of BEML immediately if the referendum was against the central government.
If we look at the results of the referendum today, 98.63% of the people who participated in the referendum voted against the Central Government’s decision to sell BEML, while only 1% voted in favour of the Central Government. In such a situation, the BEML Employees Association demanded that the Central Government stop the sale of BEML immediately in deference to the verdict of the people.
BEML Employees Association General Secretary Gireesh S welcomed everyone and INTUC District President Manoj Chingannoor presided over the protest. KGOA State President Dr. M.A. Nasser, Balakrishnan AITUC, N. Muralidharan (INTUC), CITU State Committee Member Shri. SB Raju, K. Suresh CITU, K. Kaju INTUC and Vasant Kumar S (BEML Employees Association) spoke. Mr. Sujeesh TM, Vice President, BEML Employees Association gave the vote of thanks.
