Udupi: In a shameful incident, a former employee of Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes has accused of not paying him salary for than 15 years.
Ambalapady Gopal Poojary in a press meet claimed that Fernandes had not paid salary of Rs 6.07 lac that was due to him over the 15 years he worked for the MP. Poojary said he worked as a superviser at Oscar’s workshop in Manipal. " I worked there in Manipal workshop and his office for almost 15 years from 1972 to 1987. I got only Rs 200 per month for three months. I got nothing in return but I helped Oscar get an election ticket. If my salary is not paid, I will hold hunger strike at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on April 2," he said.
"I had written to Sonia Gandhi and her secretary Margaret Alva on March 3, 1995 regarding the pending salary. Sonia Gandhi responded and directed Oscar Fernandes to pay the dues. But Fernandes paid me only Rs 10,000, nothing more. I left the job in 1987 because of unpaid salary. I have also approached labour department demanding justice. As per the Pay Commission, I am supposed to get Rs 6,07,321 (till 31-12-2015, at the rate of Rs 200 per month)," Poojary added.
"I have written to Oscar Fernandes regarding the pending salary 15 days ago. I have also forwarded the copy to the chief minister, the KPCC president and to the DC. But there is no reply yet. My wife Chanchala is sick and I require money for her medicines. At present, there is no other source of income to run the family and I need financial support," he added.
