SP follows Raj Thakeray to oppose Jet Airways, Kingfisher sack move

New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) Samajawadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh today found a common cause with arch rival Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thakeray when he declared that the party would instruct its Mumbai unit to strongly oppose the move by the Jet Airways and Kingfisher to retrench large number of their employees.

''It is disgusting. They have sacked their employees without any notice. They have no right to play with life of so many young people,'' Mr Singh said here when asked for his reaction to the retrenchment of its staff by Jet Airways and similar plans by Kingfisher Airlines.

Mr Singh was talking to reporters after the SP-UPA coordination committee meeting here.

He said he would instruct SP unit in Mumbai to oppose the plan of the two airlines tooth and nail.

No one should be allowed to deal with one's employees in such an arbitrary manner, he added.

When pointed out that MNS chief Raj Thakeray had also decided to oppose the retrenchment move, Mr Singh said he was not concerned about what Mr Thakeray may or may not do, but his party had decided to solidly back the employees.

Earlier, over 300 retrenched employees marched to the MNS headquarters in Mumbai, asking for Mr Thackeray's help, in response to which the MNS leader threatened to block Jet operations in Mumbai if the employees were not taken back.

UNI NAZ BDP CS2115