Addressing a press conference, CITU Himachal unit vice-president Hem Raj Sharma said here today that if the there was no breakthrough in the talks between workers and the management slated for March 27, the CITU would launch launch a strike immediately.

He said the CITU never wanted to disturb peace and had authorised the Nathpa Jhakri Joint Venture (NJJV) Workers' Union to withdraw the strike on the condition that the police be withdrawn from the work sites so that talks could be held in a cordial atmosphere and within a time-frame. Sharma said that CITU had already given a call for a one-day token industrial strike on March 26 throughout the state in support of the demands of NJJV workers and against the alleged unprecedented repression of the workers by the administration. He claimed that all the workers of NJJV and the Continental Foundation Joint Venture (CFJV) would join the strike tomorrow.

Giving details of the plight of the workers at the project site, Sharma said due to hazardous conditions and risky nature of the work, more than 200 workers had lost their lives and an equal number had become disabled till date. About 200 workers were also suffering from occupational diseases.He demanded better medical facilities and quality safety equipment for workers.

Refuting the charges of the administration that the CITU was creating law and order problem, Sharma said not even a single incident of violence had occurred during the month-long strike.

The CITU leader alleged that 200 workers were still missing from amongst those who were arrested on March 12. The CITU had lodged a complaint with the Jhakri police in this regard, he added and demanded action against the guilty.

When contacted on phone, Deputy Commissioner Ram Subhag Singh said that the workers who were arrested on March 12 had been released on bail. He termed Sharma's charge a white lie and said the administration had no role in the matter.