Phase one of stir over, Left to step up heat

GOVT UNDER FIRE

The Left parties' protest against India's naval exercises with the US ended today. This, however, is the beginning of a long phase of agitation by the Left and its trade union wings against the government.

The Left is working on intensified protests, including strikes and rail-roko protests, over the next three months, a move that is aimed at changing the focus from the Indo-US nuclear deal to issues that are of immediate concern to the people.

To start with, the associations of bank employees will go on a one-day strike on September 12 against outsourcing of services and the new contributory pension scheme. An all-India strike of government employees is scheduled for October 30. Apart from the state and central government employees, associations of university teachers have been roped in. In between, the parties will organise numerous dharnas, demonstrations and rallies.

The Left is depending on these agitations to shift the focus from the Indo-US nuclear deal to issues that are more saleable to the aam aadmi. The Left understands that in case of a snap poll, they need to focus on issues like price rise and workers' benefits.

The desperation was visible when CPI leader and AITUC General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta recently said in his parliamentary press conference that although the nuclear deal was important, the other issues affected the life of millions.

Threatening an indefinite bank strike if the demands of the employees were not met, CITU President and CPI(M) Politburo member MK Pandhe said, "There are a host of issues pending for a long time. Nationalised banks are downsizing staff and hiring labour cheap. So many jobs are being outsourced. This is a serious issue for us." The Left will also step up its agitation for interim relief from the Pay Commission. "Earlier, all pay commissions announced interim relief. But this time, more than two years have passed but nothing has been done," said Pandhe.

Dasgupta also chalked out plans for his outfit. "From September, there will be mass conventions throughout the country. We are targeting the cities and industrial areas." Land reforms, FDI in retail, violation of labour laws and price rise would be the main issues in this movement, he said.

All these protests will culminate in a mega meeting on December 4-5. CITU sources suggest the schedule may be advanced depending on the government's stand on the nuclear deal.

While Congress-affiliated INTUC and BJP's trade union wing BMS have agreed to support the strike by the bank and government employees, the two will not take part in the final show in December, say sources.