Insurance staff protest

CHANDIGARH Dec 14: A demonstration, protesting the impending introduction of the Insurance Bill in the parliament, was held in front of New India Insurance Company’s regional office in Sector 17 today by the Insurance Employees (LIC & GIC).

In a joint press statement issued here, regional president of the General Insurance Corporation Employees Union S.K. Bhatti, besides General Secretary of All Indian Insurance Employees Association Sudarshan Sharma, said that the protesting union members also decided to hold demonstrations during lunch hours daily.

The members also threatened to observe "one day lightning strike" immediately after the introduction of the bill. It is feared the opening of the insurance sector to private and multinationl companies would cause a "major loss" to the government.