13 May,2016 04:41 PM IST | | Anirban Das
On Tuesday, 40-50 union members barged into the set of TV show 'Kaala Teeka' to check ID cards of workers and technicians. A sound recordist, who refused to furnish it, was allegedly assaulted
A still from Kaala Teeka
Since its dissolution by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) in December 2014, Gangeshwar Shrivastav-led Allied Mazdoor Union has been functioning independently - and creating an atmosphere of fear and foreboding, claim sources. On Tuesday, 40-50 union members barged into the set of TV show Kaala Teeka to check ID cards of workers and technicians.
A still from 'Kaala Teeka'
A sound recordist, who refused to furnish it, was allegedly assaulted.
A source says, "Navnath Wayekar questioned why he should show his ID card to them when they were not affiliated to the FWICE and have no right to carry out an inspection. That led to an argument. Wayekar was pulled and slapped. There have been several instances of the union members throwing their weight around and indulging in high-handed behaviour."
However, Rakesh Maurya, a member of the union, denies the allegations, saying, "No one slapped him. He was using expletives and that's when a scuffle took place. The FWICE is against our association and they just want reasons to pull us down."
Wayekar has reported the incident to the FWICE. "It was embarrassing and upsetting. The FWICE has, however, assured me of an apology from the union," he says.
