BEML employees begin two-day stir at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi

New Delhi: Despite staging protests for over nine months opposing the Government’s move to privatise public sector giant BEML (Bharath Earth Movers Ltd.), over 200 elected representatives of BEML Employees Unions from Mysuru, Bengaluru and KGF in Karnataka and Palakkad in Kerala began their two-day protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi this morning. N.K. Devadas, President of BEML Employees Association, Mysuru, speaking to SOM this morning, said that the members left for New Delhi on Aug. 7 and reached Delhi yesterday, where they participated in a National Convention, which was attended by more than 200 employees from various industries across the country. He said that during the Convention, Kollam MP Premachandran raised the issue of privatisation of BEML and opposed the move which was supported by West Bengal MP Tapan Sen and added that the privatisation move was opposed by all those who attended the Convention. Devadas further said that the Union Members began the protest at Jantar Mantar at 9 am today and would continue till 5 pm. He added that they would continue their protest tomorrow also to draw the attention of the Government. He said that during today’s protest, Kolar MP K.H. Muniyappa met the agitators and assured them of all support. Devadas said that the members of BEML Employees Association, Mysuru, would stage a night-long demonstration in Mysuru on Aug. 14 from 6 pm to 6 am (Aug.15) to register their protest against the disinvestment move of the Centre.