Seeking a public debate on the right to strike, the CPI(M) today said it would ask the government to initiate steps to amend the Constitution to enshrine it. |
"Unless you remove the causes which provoke strikes, you cannot do away with the right. As discussion on judicial reforms is on, this is the correct time to debate the right to strike," party leader Nilotpal Basu told reporters here. |
He said the Left parties would initiate discussions with the government to enshrine the right to strike in the Constitution and added that thousands of workers and youths had arrived in the Capital for a rally to seek constitutional status for it. |
Asked to comment on West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's 'opposition' to strikes, Basu said he had referred to 'bandhs' but had "defended the right to strike of the working class in the same breath". |
To a question on the party's stand on repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota), Basu said while everyone agreed to the repeal, some provisions in the Bill to replace the Ordinance to amend the Unlawful Activities (prevention) Act needed wider consultations. |
Hence, he favoured sending it to the parliamentary standing committee saying such a move could be "ideal". |
However, Basu hastened to add that there were "certain legislative difficulties which we appreciate". Asked what the party would do in the Rajya Sabha in case of a voting, the CPI(M) leader said "to disagree does not mean the same as opposing". |
On the differences between central ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ramvilas Paswan, Basu said the prime minister should sit with them and sort out the differences. |