10 June,2011 06:52 AM IST | | Atul Krishan
44 former employees of All India Congress Committee headquarters have approached the Delhi police and Labour Court seeking justice
Around 44 former employees of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters have approached the Delhi police and the labour court after they were reportedly sacked on May 2010 by the AICC management without any reason. All of them had worked at the AICC office for the past 28 years.
Be kind, rewind: Madan Lal, one of the complainants, used to drive
former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's car. Seen here with Sonia Gandhi
Madan Lal said he never thought he would face such hard times
because of the AICC
Feeling left out: Madan Lal with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
and Congress President Sonia Gandhi
Some of them worked as drivers of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, as well as Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former AICC president Sitaram Kesari. One of the employees, Manju Ghosh (48), reportedly died of shock after getting the sack.
After her death, her colleagues decided to fight for their rights. They have approached the Delhi police, the labour court and the Commissioner of Regional Provident Fund.u00a0 The former employees further alleged they were deprived of several government facilities as Public Provident Fund accounts were opened in their names instead of Employees' Provident Fund accounts.u00a0"We were also made to sign on Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS). AK Vohra, the administrative official of AICC, promised us that we would be reinstated if we sign on the VRS papers. He said if we do not accept the conditions of the VRS, we would be sacked without a single penny in compensation. We feel cheated," said Gopal Das, a former employee.
Tehseen Fatima (49), who worked as a dispatch clerk for 26 years at the AICC headquarters, said: "I have been working with AICC since Indira Gandhi's time. For the last 26 years, I have been an honest worker. And this is the reward they gave me for my dedication! Where do I go from here?" she asked.
"I had been in deep depression," said Harinder Kumar, former driver of Sitaram Kesari. "I signed on the VRS paper without reading it. I believed them when they said I would get my job back," said Harinder. When asked for a comment, AICC spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi denied the
allegations. He said all these employees left their jobs on their own. "They were not fired by our management.u00a0 They resigned after accepting Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). We have their VRS papers with us," he said. He added the matter was being looked into by administrative officials.
"Our lives are ruined"
Madan Lal, a native of Shalimar Garden in Shahibabad in Uttar Pradesh, has worked with former Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi as their driver. He said he never thought he would face such hard times because of the AICC. "I spent two years with Indira Gandhi and then I worked with Rajivji. I have been working in AICC office since 1980. My starting salary was Rs 350 and now I was being paid Rs 13,400. I never have thought I will be cheated by the AICC," said Madan Lal.
Death after sack
Manju Ghosh, who had been working at AICC office, died soon after she got the sack. "She was working as telephone operator for many years. She could never believe what happened to her. She pleaded with the management many times and finally fell ill and died," said Madan Lal.
Complaint with Delhi police
A complaint was received at the Tughlak Road Police Station by sacked employees against two administrative officials of AICC headquarters. In the complaint, the employees have alleged they were being threatened by AICC officials. "We are being threatened by AICC officials. They have warned us of dire consequences if we go ahead with our complaint," read the complaint. "SS Moin and Aatender Sharma, both administrative officials, have attacked us. They are threatening us of dire consequences," said Madan Lal. No police official was ready to comment on the matter.
