UDF takes out march against missing files

ALAPPUZHA: The UDF on Wednesday took out a march to Alappuzha municipal office against the indefinite strike by Kerala Municipal Corporation Staff Union (KMCSU) of the CITU. 

District Congress committee president M. Liju, who inaugurated the protest, said the files in connection with the construction of Lake Palace resort disappeared from the municipal office for transport minister Thomas Chandy.

"Mr Chandy doesn't have valid documents with him to justify his illegal constructions for the resort. He can only show signs in his palm. The people who are dancing to his tunes removed all files related to his illegal activities from the municipal office for saving him," he said.

Police stopped the march, started from EMS Stadium, before the municipal office. 

However, the KMCSU said they would continue their agitation till the authorities withdraw suspension order against some of them. Of 125 employees, 84 employees are on strike since September 22.

Municipal chairman Thomas Joseph suspended the engineering wing superintendent Prasanth Kumar, section clerk C. M. Suja, and office attenders P. C. Moly and Geevarghese after the Lake Palace files went missing, and it became controversial.

"They were suspended violating all the norms. They did not have any role in missing files as they took charge after that. The chairman doesn't have any right to execute the order. It is the duty of the municipal secretary. It is entirely against laws,'' KMCSU unit president G. Sixtus said.