Expressing “deep distress” at the life sentence to 13 workers and five-year jail to another four workers of Maruti Suzuki in connection with the violence and fire in the Manesar plant in 2012 that led to the death of an HR executive, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said the trade union movement “cannot be cowed down…by the government employer nexus.”

“Despite no way being responsible for the incident, the workers have been convicted on the basis of concocted evidence manufactured by the state administration, police and employer nexus in a shameless abuse of power,” K Hemlatha, President, CITU, said in a statement.

Following the incident, over 500 workers were thrown out of their jobs and over 200 workers were jailed for up to four-and-half years. Hundred and seventeen were acquitted by the court after over four years.

Flaying the Haryana state administration’s bid to “crush the trade union movement in the Gurgaon industrial area,” Hemlatha said unions were planning united actions in solidarity with the victimised workers, including filing of appeal against the court order.

“Over one lakh workers in the area boycotted lunch on March 16, in spontaneous expression of protest. The workers of Maruti and its ancillaries/subsidiaries in Gurgaon/ Manesar went on total strike for one-hour strike in the evening shift of March 18,” CITU said, calling upon all its unions across States to come forward in solidarity with the Maruti workers struggle for justice, including the legal battle.

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