12 WORKERS KILLED IN FIRE ACCIDENT

CPI(M) Demands Arrest Of Factory Owner

THE CPI(M), Delhi state committee expressed its deep sense of outrage and sorrow at the burning alive of 12 workers in a garment factory in Vishwas Nagar on December 7 and extended its condolences to their families.

In a statement, it held the factory owner squarely responsible for the death of the 12 workers. “He had locked the main gate and door to the staircase from outside to conceal theft of electricity. This prevented the workers from escaping. This incident has cruelly brought into focus the inhuman working conditions of lakhs of workers in the capital. Large numbers are stuffed into small working spaces. Managements violate safety norms with impunity. The Delhi government labour department is notorious for its complicity in all wrongdoings of the managements”, the Party noted.

Referring to the Delhi chief minister expressing sorrow at the incident and announcing compensation for relatives of the deceased and injured, the Party stated “This show of sympathy rings hollow given the willful toleration by her government of the conditions that lead to such disasters.”

The CPI(M) demanded that:

1. The owner of the unit be immediately arrested and charged with culpable homicide under Section 304 of the IPC.

2. The Delhi government must fix the responsibility and punish offices and employees of the labour department, who were guilty of willful transgression of safety norms in this unit.

3. The compensation per deceased worker be increased to Rs 5 lakh. The Delhi government must bear all expenses of the treatment of all injured workers.

4. The Delhi government must ensure strict implementation of labour and safety laws.

(INN)