A contingent of protesting contractual employees of the Delhi Transport Corporation, numbering an estimated 1000, sought to meet Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday to discuss issues related to their employment. They were, however, not allowed to meet the CM.
Protesting lack of parity in pay compared to their colleagues who have been directly employed by the public transporter, members of the DTC Contractual Workers’ Union said they had been invited by Mr. Kejriwal to his residence for the meeting, but then did not meet with them.
“The CM had invited us for a discussion at his residence on Friday but refused to meet us... his staff told us that he is unwell and assured us that our demands would be discussed on Monday... they tried to remove us forcibly,” the union said in a statement, adding that they refused to budge from the CM’s residence for ‘five to seven hours’ following which the assurance was conveyed to them.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari attacked Mr. Kejriwal for refusing to meet the protesting employees. “A video has been released by the employees... violence by AAP workers against them can be seen... Though Mr. Kejriwal claims to be the boss of Delhi... he is not ready to listen to the people,” Mr. Tiwari said.