Mysore/Mysuru: Members of All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF) and South Western Railway Mazdoor Union (SWRMU) staged a protest in front of the Divisional Office here on Monday as a mark of protest against the alleged tapping of phone of Shivagopal Mishra, General Secretary, AIRF, by the Government of India.

They slammed the Union Government for resorting to anti-democratic tactics like phone-tapping of an important office-bearer of AIRF which has grown as a strong Union in Indian Railways. Holding protest was their right in democracy. The Government was trying to curtail it by resorting to tapping telephone of Union leaders. Their protest only aimed at the development of Indian Railways and welfare of Railway employees. It was not against any Government as they will continue to fight no matter whichever party was in power in the Centre. It was highly condemnable to tap the telephone of any Union National leader, they added. Arthur Fernandes, Working President, SWRMU, Mysuru Division, P.Shivaprakash, Divisional Secretary, S. Somashekar, Divisional President and others took part.