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)