Govt employees set to go on strike in Karnataka, CM Bommai attempts to assuage concerns
Hubballi/Bengaluru (PTI): With the government employees in Karnataka set to go on an indefinite strike from March 1, seeking fulfilment of various demands, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday reached out to them saying the administration was ready to seek 7th Pay commission's interim report immediately and implement it.
Most of the services, barring a few like transport, critical care at hospitals and crematoriums are likely to be hit due to the stir.
The employees have forwarded three major demands -- implementation of the 7th Pay Commission report, reverting to the Old Pension Scheme and implementation of at least 40 per cent of fitment facilities.
"Our senior officials are in touch with the government employees' association and their President, and are holding talks. I have already made it clear in the Assembly that we were the ones who formed the seventh pay commission and it will be implemented in 2023-24 itself, and funds for it have been allocated in the budget," Bommai told reporters at Hubballi.
He further said their demand is to seek an interim report and implement it, which he has agreed to.
"We are ready to immediately direct the seventh pay commission to submit the interim report and implement it," he added.
Karnataka State Government Employees' Association President C S Shadakshari had earlier said that all services including hospitals -- other than casualty and essential services, -- will be affected.
Also, all services of 'Mahanagara Palike' and 'Pura Sabha' including pourakarmika (civic workers) and various energy supply companies.
Revenue collection, schools and pre-university examinations, will also be hit, he said, adding that "there is already an 8-month delay, we cannot wait anymore, we don't know what will happen when the new government comes in, so the employees have decided to go on strike voluntarily".
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Badlapur accused Akshay Shinde shot dead: Lawyer of minor girls calls it 'killing of justice'
Mumbai (PTI): The gunning down of Badlapur case accused Akshay Shinde on Monday was the "killing of justice", said Asim Sarode, lawyer for the two minor girls he allegedly sexually assaulted.
Shinde was killed near Mumbra Bypass around 6:15pm when he allegedly snatched the gun of a policeman while he was being ferried in a police vehicle as part of a probe into a case registered on the complaint of his former wife.
After he shot and injured an API, another personnel from the escort team fired at him, and he was declared dead by doctors at a nearby hospital.
"While representing the two minor girls, I noticed it was becoming uncomfortable for the local politics of the Thane district and even for the educational institution where Akshay Shinde was working. Shinde's death in such a manner is killing of justice," Sarode told a regional news channel.
"Now, the case of sexual assault of the two minor girls will get sidelined. The case of these two minor girls was becoming difficult for the educational institute, as it is affiliated with a certain political family. Such a practice would lower the confidence of people in police and the judiciary," he claimed.
Sarode said he will be filing a plea before the Bombay High Court demanding thorough inquiry into the firing incident.
"Shinde's case could have brought up certain aspects that would have been negative politically for the government. I wonder how Shinde could access the gun and how he could unlock it when his hands were tied. This is political murder and is absolutely wrong," he said.
