The agitation of the employees of the HMT factory, Ranibagh, Haldwani entered its 26th day on Monday. The stir is being staged to protest against the Central Government’s decision to close down this public sector company. A delegation of the agitating employees has already met the MP from Nainital - Udham Singh Nagar Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and other leaders in Delhi recently in bids to end the impasse, said KS Rawat, media in-charge of the HMT Sanyukt Sangharshsheel Morcha.
More so, the members of the Morcha are trying to meet the Chief Minister Harish Rawat. We would ask for his intervention, Rawat added. The agitating employees’ main demand is prompt revival of the said factory. Another demand is clearance of salary due since April 2014. They also are demanding restoration of power supply to the unit. Power supply to the HMT unit at Ranibag was cut off a long time ago. In case the Government of India does not want to manufacture watches at this factory, it must clear decks for the production of equipments for defence, railways and other sectors as had been done before, suggested the agitating employees. There are 523 employees presently working with this factory. Some of the members who took part in the agitation on its 26th day on Monday included MC Bhatt, KC Joshi, PC Varma, HP Joshi, KS Mehra and DR Arya.