Hammals to boycott BJP, Cong during MP Assly polls

Bhopal, Sep 28 (UNI) The CPI and the All India Trade Union Congress today said 'hammals' would boycott both the BJP and the Congress in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections in case their demands are not met.

Alleging that the government was neglecting 'hammals', state CPI secretary Shailendra Kumar Shailey and AITUC (Bhopal) secretary Roop Singh Chouhan told a joint press conference here that the government had announced pension and social security schemes for 'hammals' of the agriculture produce mandis.

Besides, 'hammals' are present at transport, agri-mandis, wholesale shops, industries and godowns. These 'hammals' are deprived of these facilities.

He said 'hammals' would stage protest if their demands were not met and later boycott both the BJP and the Congress during the polls.

The population of 'hammals' is 1.5 lakh. Their main demands include framing beneficial labour laws, providing pension and issuing of blue ration cards.

UNI AKS-PS 1526