PM sells Buddha logic to trade unions

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a piece of advice for the Left-backed trade unions today: "Look at West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. See how he is maintaining industrial peace."

This came during his meeting with a delegation of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the trade union arm of the CPI, which approached him to complain about the violation of labour laws in the country, especially in Haryana.

According to Left sources, while the PM shared their concerns about labour issues, he tried to convince the AITUC delegation led by CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta that the TUs should help to maintain good industrial relations, as West Bengal and Haryana were attracting a lot of FDI.

Dasgupta protested saying, "Please don't try to beat me with Buddha stick. When it comes to labour laws, we will not be flexible even in West Bengal."