Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Jul 17: “From the last few days, some of the newspapers reports are reporting that Mass India organization and Siddivinayaka Tours and Travels are fooling people,” said G A Koteyar, Karnataka president of Mass India Mahiti Seva Samiti.

Addressing the press meet on Tuesday July 16 he said “Shivaramkrishnan, ESI director Mangaluru, has accused us of not paying the ESI amount since January. He has also accused about me that I have some promotional activities about ESI in Facebook and WhatsApp. If promoting about ESI is a crime, then we do not have freedom in our country. I was creating awareness about ESI without any prejudice. A cyber complaint is also filed by Shivaramkrinshnan against me.

“Sidddivinayaka Tours and Travels is not a false company. The company has trade license, municipality license, labour license and even EPF/ESI license too. The company is functioning under the provisions of law. We have around 10 drivers. As per ESI regulations, if a company has 10 workers it is allowed to pay ESI of its employees. In September 2018, Siddhivinayaka Tours and travels had submitted an appeal letter to the ESI director Mangaluru. The director had all the rights to decline the application. We had even signed a contract to proceed for the ESI payment of our employees. The organization maintains proper records of attendance, salary, and accounts. Rs 25,000 has been paid for the purpose of ESI for our employees,” he said.

Koteyar also asked the police department to take strict action against Shivramkrishnan, director ESI Mangaluru, and warned that if he gets arrested for the case filed against him, he will be starting a movement similar to movement done by Jayaprakash Narayan when he was arrested.

Vittal Jathan, owner, Siddhivinayaka Tours and Travels, Rajesh B Shetty, president, Auto Owners’ Association, Raviraj Shetty and others were present.