A team of trade union representatives, affiliated to the Left parties, on Sunday visited Yanam to ascertain the facts in the aftermath of the violent incidents at Regency Ceramics which claimed the lives of a union leader, Mr Murali Mohan, and the president of the company, Mr K. C. Chandrasekhar.
Later, at a press meet here, the representatives demanded that the Government order a judicial inquiry into the killing of the union leader and make earnest efforts to get the factory reopened at the earliest. Mr Jalli Wilson, a member of the AP Legislative Council belonging to the CPI, and Mr Ch. Narasinga Rao, a CPM leader, said an attempt was being made to project the death of the union leader as a natural one, due to a heart attack or some other ailment. They said stringent action should be taken against the police officials responsible for the union leader's death.
They also took exception to the remark of Mr G.N. Naidu, Chairman of Regency group, that it would not be possible to reopen the factory in the present circumstances, in view of the crippling losses suffered in the incident, and that anyway was not his priority. They said Mr Naidu and the Regency management were trying to threaten the workers, which was not correct, and the Puducherry Government should make all efforts to get the factory re-opened and protect the interests of workers.
The delegation visited the Government general hospital here — where the injured workers were undergoing treatment —and lent support to their cause.
In another statement, Mr Vishnuvardhana Rao, President of the Yanam Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said : “We have nothing against trade union activity. But the workers and unions should abide by rules, and disputes should be resolved in accordance with industrial laws. If they take law into their own hands, it will harm everybody.”
Mr M. Krishna Rao, MLA from Yanam, said the atmosphere should not be vitiated any further and all parties should exercise restraint. “We made great efforts in the past to attract investment to Yanam. We must not allow the incident to mar the future of Yanam,” he remarked.