Mysuru KSIC Workers Temporarily Halt Strike Following Government Assurance
Workers at the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) unit in T Narasipura, Mysuru, have temporarily withdrawn their 15-day strike after receiving an assurance from Congress MLC Yathindra. The government has promised to reconsider the controversial plan to construct a stadium at the site, pending a technical report.
Protesters Issue Ultimatum for March 15 Deadline
However, the protesting workers have issued a stern warning: if the government does not completely drop the stadium construction plan by March 15, they will intensify their agitation significantly. This escalation will involve collaboration with environmental groups, farmers' organizations, Dalit organizations, Kannada organizations, and various progressive groups.
The workers have announced plans to convene a meeting soon with state-level leaders of these supporting organizations to determine the future course of the protest movement.
Friday Meeting Results in Conditional Work Resumption
Leaders from various organizations supporting the workers' strike gathered on Friday to assess the situation and pass several resolutions. Following these discussions, workers have resumed their duties, placing trust in the assurances provided by MLC Yathindra.
Despite returning to work, the protest will continue symbolically through specific actions:
- Workers will wear black armbands while on duty until the government officially announces withdrawal of the stadium project
- Employees will refuse overtime work as part of their ongoing protest
The supporting organizations have resolved to maintain pressure on the government through various means until their demand for complete cancellation of the stadium project is met.
Key Participants in the Decision-Making Process
Several prominent community leaders participated in Friday's crucial meeting:
- Parashurame Gowda - General Secretary of People for Environment
- Hosakote Basavaraju - District General Secretary of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha
- Alagudu Shivakumar - District Convener of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti
- Kiragasuru Shankar - District Vice-President of the Sugarcane Growers' Association
These leaders, along with other representatives, collectively decided on the conditional work resumption while maintaining protest measures to keep attention focused on their demands regarding the stadium construction plan at the KSIC site.
