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Unions hold rally to protest against privatisation

Several labour unions affiliated to the Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat and other left parties on Tuesday took out a rally to Mantralaya, the government's headquarters, protesting against privatisation and the contract system.

The Bombay Hawkers Union, several unions of banks and insurance corporations, Maharashtra State Electricity Board, and the Brihamumbai Electric Supply and Transport unions participated in the demonstration.

The hawkers who participated in the rally were protesting against the removal of hawkers in the name of formation of hawking and non-hawking zones in the city.

The hawkers union representatives alleged that the Maharashtra government was evicting hawkers on the pretext of opening 'zunka bhakar' centres.

The bank and other union leaders also condemned the contract system and said that it would render many people jobless.

The rally was stopped near Mantralaya.

Later, a delegation led by union leaders Sharad Rao and K L Bajaj called on Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and submitted a memorandum of their demands.

Earlier report: Protest against privatisation