Diamond workers take out rally in Rajkot

Rajkot, Jul 7 (UNI) Though the agitation in Surat, Surendranagar and Visavadar in Junagadh district has subsided, nearly 400 diamond workers took out a rally here today, demanding higher wages.

The rally passed through the main bazaar before reaching the Collectorate Office.

The rally was taken out in a peaceful manner. Later, the agitating workers submitted a memorandum to the district collector here.

The workers are demanding a 20 per cent hike in the wages following a stiff rise in inflation.

Police intensified security here when workers staged the rally, as they did not want to take any chance of violence here in the wake of an agitation in Bhavnagar that had turned ugly.

Notably, in Bhavnagar, one worker was killed in firing and several others injured when they indulged in stone- pelting.

Meanwhile, according to a report from Jasdan, nearly 2,000 workers assembled near a bus station to decide future course of action. For last two days, the diamond units have remained shut following the agitaion of the workers for better wages.

The police had beefed up security at Jasdan to avoid any untoward incident.

A rally was also taken out by diamond workers at Savarkundla in Amreli district today, where a stray incident of stone-pelting was reported.

Later, the protestors submitted a memorandum to the authorites concerned.

UNI AV SSS SB AS1947