NEW DELHI, May 1: `May Day' celebrations in the capital were marred today when a worker attempted self immolation, protesting against non-receipt of salary for six months.

The immolation bid, at a rally near Parliament House, sparked off violence with workers pelting stones at the police who used water cannons, teargas and later resorted to lathicharge to disperse the demonstrators.

Thirtyfive-year-old Sarvesh Chander, an employee of the Swatantra Bharat Textile Mills, who took this extreme step, suffered 90 per cent burns and has been admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.

Sarvesh, father of six children, who was participating in workers' procession suddenly set himself afire by pouring some inflammable liquid. Police claimed that they tried to douse the flame and save him but alleged that they were prevented by stone pelting workers.

Swatantra Bharat Mill is one of those polluting industrial units in the capital which has been ordered to relocate itself following a Supreme Court order.

Rallies across the country marked May Day today, with workers demanding a substantial hike in minimum wages, employment guarantee and better working conditions.

The capital was dotted by gatherings and processions of workers, organised by scores of trade unions. The Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) took out a rally, pressing for the withdrawal of the ``anti-working class economic policies and the new pension scheme, repeal of black laws like the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and ban on illegal closure, contractual labour and retrenchment.''

Another mazdoor rally, organised by the Indian National Shramik Congress (INSC), was addressed among others by former Union Ministers KC Pant and G Venkat Swamy.

Addressing the rally, INSC president Sukhbir Sharma demanded a hike in minimum wages and its strict implementation, medical facilities, a suitable pension scheme and social security for unorganised workers.

He also sought rehabilitation of workers of closed textile mills, abolition of child labour and contract system and rejection the fifth pay commission recommendation for scrapping of 350,000 jobs.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.