Mamata govt directs all staff to report for work on Sept 2

Kolkata, Aug 29 (PTI) Taking a tough stand, West Bengalgovernment today directed all its employees to report for workon September 2, when central trade unions have called acountrywide strike. The Mamata Banerjee government has also warned thatanyone who remains absent a day prior to it and the nextworking day will be showcased. "It has also been decided that no leave shall be grantedto any employee on the ‘bandh’ day, the day prior to it(September 1), and on the next working day (September 5)," amemorandum issued to the employees said. It warned that if any employee remains absent on thethree days, showcause notice will be issued to him or herseeking explanation why action should not be taken for suchunauthorised absence. Dislocation of traffic will not be areason for granting leave. Earlier in the day, Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said,"We are against bandh. Bandh means loss of thousands of croresof rupees a day. Those who lost the election, those who wererejected by the people they have called the bandh which willharm the people." "In view of the call given by different trade unions forbandh/strike all over the country on September 2, it has beendecided that all state government offices including thoseprovided with grants-in-aid by the state government wouldremain open and all employees should report for duty on thatdate," the notice said. The directive said absence of employees on that datewould be treated as ‘dies non’ and no salary would beadmissible. Exception will however be made in case of hospitalisationof employees, bereavement in the family, severe illness andthose who are on leave already. The central trade unions have given a call for acountrywide general strike on September 2 to protest the"anti-people, anti-national and anti-worker" policies of theNDA government at the Centre. PTI NIK SUN KKNSD