MNS-Shiv Sena clash to take credit for Jet reinstatement

Mumbai, Oct 17 (UNI) The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Shiv Sena are both staking their claims over the reinstatement of 1,900 Jet employees, who were reinstated yesterday.

The Shiv Sena, in its front page report in the party mouthpiece 'Saamna', has demanded to stop the 'dramas of termination in the name of world-wide recession'.

Sena working president Uddhav Thackeray wrote that Jet owner Naresh Goyal said he was not aware of as to who took the decision to retrench the staff, then he should find out and sack those who took this decision, he said.

Mr Thackeray said the Sena's labour wing Bharatiya Kamgar Sena is recognised in Jet and the party would not allow to cut the salary of confirmed employees. Jet will have to pay bonus and ex gratia to them, he wrote.

However, 'Saamna' did not forget to mention that of the sacked 1,900 staff, only 40 were Marathi speaking people.

Mewanwhile, MNS president Raj Thackeray, while addressing a press conference this morning, welcomed the decision of reinstatement.

He said the retrenched employees came to him because they had faith in him.

''It is not essential to have a labour union for the people to have aith,'' he remarked.

Raj also said there is a need to take a considerate view as the companies are also facing the problems due to recession.

He had vocally demanded reinstatement of all the sacked employees.

UNI JM SSS SB BD1920