Kerala electricity board employees decide to boycott talks by 'spiritual leader' Sri M
India Today
The employees’ association pointed out that it was inappropriate to invite a spiritual guru who follows a particular belief to a public sector firm where employees of different faiths work together.
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) was forced to cancel a motivational talk event, scheduled for tomorrow, that was to be addressed by spiritual leader Sri M to help employees de-stress after a section of the staff decided to boycott the event.
The employees’ association pointed out that it was inappropriate to invite a spiritual guru who follows a particular belief to a public sector firm like the KSEB where employees of different faiths work together.
Incidentally, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan once called Sri M a “secular spiritual leader” who does not stand for a particular religion. Sri M was the mediator of the peace talks between the CPI(M) and RSS when political violence escalated last year. However, it did not help.
An online meeting held on Wednesday by the KSEB Workers Association (KSEBWA), affiliated with CITU, issued a statement opposing the move to invite a spiritual guru to a government firm.
It asked the KSEB authorities to withdraw from the unilateral decision, threatening to boycott the event if they do not comply. KSEBWA released a statement which said that the Board had gone back on such decisions in the past when Brahmakumaris were invited for a talk with the female employees, cancelling the event over protests.
Other associations have not commented on the matter yet and pointed out that the talk was announced rather soon.
