Mamata to award compensatory leave for strike, Oppn furious
Kolkata, Feb 21: The Opposition slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the latter said on Wesnesday that her government would award its employees with compensatory leaves for working on a strike day.
"If the CM is really eager to revive the work culture in the state, then why is she planning to spoil other working days by approving compensatory leaves?, asked the Opposition parties. Banerjee, who has taken an aggressive stance vis-à-vis the 48-hour strike called by central trade unions and even wanted those parties calling strikes to be banned.
Congratulating the government employees for being present at work on a strike day, Banerjee said at the state secretariat that her humane government would reciprocate by awarding long leave during Durga Puja, just as it had done last year when a long leave worth 8-10 days was sanctioned for the state employees.
Left leaders lashed out at Banerjee for her announcement. CITU state president Shyamal Chakrabarty said while the government was saying that strike harmed production, it was talking of granting leaves on working days. "The CM is claiming that she has improved the work culture by 100 per cent, but does granting leaves set a good example of work culture?", a major Bengali daily quoted him as asking.
Another
CITU
leader
asked
whether
Banerjee
was
trying
to
bribe
the
workers
by
promising
them
leaves.
The
chief
minister
also
said
on
Wednesday
that
the
state
was
being
led
towards
the
ruins
through
the
culture
of
strike.
"But
today
we
have
seen
that
many
people
came
out
of
their
homes.
Many
departments
in
the
Writers'
saw
cent
per
cent
attendance.
In
some
departments,
employees
stayed
in
the
office
the
previous
night,'
she
said.
OneIndia News
(With inputs from Anandabazaar Patrika, ABP Ananda)