Demanding an enquiry into workings of higher-ups in department, city's firemen will protest at Azad Maidan today; unmet demands also an issue

After doctors, it is fire personnel's turn to go on a strike. For the first time since 2002, Mumbai's firemen would express their anguish against their chiefs and the civic authorities by holding a peaceful demonstration at Azad Maidan to protest alleged wrongdoings by authorities "indifferent to our demands".



"The firemen would be at Azad Maidan for the protest from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm," said the president of Municipal Mazdoor Union, Sharad Rao, claiming that that there is no transparency in the working of the chiefs.

"There should be an enquiry into the working of Chief Fire Officer Uday Tatkare and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Suhas Joshi," alleged Suryakant Mahadik, president, Mumbai Fire Services Union.

"We would discontinue services if the authorities do not pay heed to our demands today," he added.
Said a fire official, "We have a long-standing list of unmet demands.

The guidelines of fire safety are not followed. We are understaffed and working overtime without any acknowledgment. The authorities even use official vehicles for personal ends. There is so much wrong doing."

The last protest by firemen was in 2002 when only the internal work of the department had stopped.

The Other Side
CFO Uday Tatkare said, "We have resolved half of firemen's problems in the last 3 meetings. There is a meeting today after which their issues will be resolved." About the allegations against him, he said, "The union is pressurising the firemen to take such steps. If they demand an inquiry by the CBI, I am ready to face it."
Addl Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said, "We had promised the union that we would solve their problems before April 15, 2011."


Shake it, mulga
Dancers performing on a Koli song at the Thane Mahotsav, rushed over to the front row of the audience and pulled up a rather shy Aditya Thackeray to shake a leg with the enthusiastic troupe.