Within 24 hours of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee declaring that he was against bandhs and strikes and that “colleagues in Delhi were also changing”, the CPI(M) and especially its trade Union wing CITU clarified that this was not the case. In fact, Bhattacharjee might well be asked by incensed colleagues in Delhi for an explanation over his remarks.
Today, CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury told a few journalists, “Strikes will remain an important tool for political parties.” Another politburo member and CITU General Secretary Md Amin was clearer. “These are Buddhadeb’s personal opinions. Workers cannot quit their right to strike,” he told Business Standard. One central committee member, preferring anonymity said, “The CM hasn’t done the right thing. Perhaps he wanted to project his image as an administrator in front of the industry captains.”
Bhattacharjee had remarked at an ASSOCHAM seminar, “I don’t support any bandh. I agree it is not helping anyone but unfortunately, as I belong to one party and they call a strike, I keep mum. But I have finally decided that next time I will open my mouth.”
As Bhattacharjee has also expressed his desire to “open his mouth” against the bandh culture of the party, Amin today said, “There can be discussion on any issue. If he (the Bengal CM) wants, we can discuss the issue of bandhs and strikes too.” The politburo is scheduled to meet on September 6 and 7 in New Delhi.
Although the party and its trade union completely differ with the chief minister, the CPI(M) is unlikely to issue any official rejoinder in this case immediately. Party General Secretary Prakash Karat too remained unavailable for comments even as party sources claimed that Karat had a talk with Bhattacharjee this morning.
As Bhattacharjee is a senior politburo member and a prominent leader of the party, the CPI(M) central leadership wants to provide an opportunity to Bhattacharjee himself to ‘clarify’ his stand. “There will definitely be a clarification on this issue but it’s too early to decide the form and the content,” said a CPI(M) central committee member.
The CITU has also taken exception to the remarks in the seminar that trade unions are creating problems in the small- and medium-scale industries. CITU National Secretary and CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Tapan Sen told Business Standard, “The problems of the SMEs are not because of unionisation but due to erroneous policies of the central government which, in the name of competition, promotes monopolisation of economic powers. SMEs are worst victims of institutional credits. Unfortunately, the industrial chamber is focusing on trade unions instead of real maladies.”
Countering Bhattacharjee’s observations that bandh and strikes are not helping anyone, Amin remarked, “Strikes do help the working class. There are many examples where the pending issues have been resolved after the working class resorted to strike.” Amin had been the labour minister in the Left Front government in West Bengal.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today resented Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s anti-bandh comment. "I don't think he had expressed such an opinion. If he had said so, then it is wrong," Achuthanandan told reporters here. Achuthanandan had justified last week's all-India strike called by Left trade unions.
