The day the Central government told the apex court that Vijay Mallya – promoter of now dysfunctional Kingfisher airline has fled the country; scores of his former employees gathered outside the airline's Vile Parle office, raisied slogans and pleaded the prime minister to intervene and get back the industrialist to India for facing the action.
The protesters, who numbered around two dozen, demanded their pending salaries and dues, which they claim have not been paid to them since months preceding the closure of the airline. More than 2,000 staffers, lenders and contract employees were affected due to non-payment of their dues, the protesters claimed. Those gathered included people who are still jobless while others working elsewhere. The placards that protesters held read, "Achhe din kab ayenge (when will the good days come)" "Har Har Modi. PM Sir Please help." "Honourable SC. Please help us get our dues."
One among those gathered was a rather shy protestor Irfan Mastan who does not have much hope of getting back the money but wants to see some changes taking place in the system so that similar situation does not arise with other airlines or companies, who may decide to shut their shop one day. "From the very beginning, we did not find much support from the government agencies, including the labour commission. If it would not have been for banks whose money was struck; the case would not have even come out the way it has now. My only concern is that the enforcement agencies and other authorities should become more responsible at least when the lives and careers of so many people are at stake." Mastan, who was left jobless one fine day after putting over six years of service with the airline added, "The Indian government should bring Mallya back to India."
10/03/16 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis
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The protesters, who numbered around two dozen, demanded their pending salaries and dues, which they claim have not been paid to them since months preceding the closure of the airline. More than 2,000 staffers, lenders and contract employees were affected due to non-payment of their dues, the protesters claimed. Those gathered included people who are still jobless while others working elsewhere. The placards that protesters held read, "Achhe din kab ayenge (when will the good days come)" "Har Har Modi. PM Sir Please help." "Honourable SC. Please help us get our dues."
One among those gathered was a rather shy protestor Irfan Mastan who does not have much hope of getting back the money but wants to see some changes taking place in the system so that similar situation does not arise with other airlines or companies, who may decide to shut their shop one day. "From the very beginning, we did not find much support from the government agencies, including the labour commission. If it would not have been for banks whose money was struck; the case would not have even come out the way it has now. My only concern is that the enforcement agencies and other authorities should become more responsible at least when the lives and careers of so many people are at stake." Mastan, who was left jobless one fine day after putting over six years of service with the airline added, "The Indian government should bring Mallya back to India."
10/03/16 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis
