Citu is ready to join hands with Trinamool to oppose Modi government's anti-people policies

KOLKATA: CPIM's trade union arm Citu has no objection to hold talks with Trinamool Congress trade union to make the September 2 general strike a grand success in Bengal. Knowing fully well that Mamata Banerjee is opposing the general strike called against Narendra Modi's government and has given an impression that her government will take action against the strikers, Citu on Tuesday said that they have no objection to hold talks with Bengal power minister and Trinamool trade Union leader Sobhandeb Chatterjee in regard to get their support.

"Personally I have no problem in holding talks with Chatterjee or Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP and trade unionist Dola Sen and get their support for the September 2 general strike in Bengal. We will also appreciate Trinamool trade union if they manage to convince Mamata Banerjee's government to adopt a soft approach towards the government employees who will be joining the strike," Citu Bengal unit president and CPIM central committee member Shyamal Chakraborty said on Tuesday.

He, however, made it clear that strike in Bengal will be a grand success. "It is good if Trinamool trade union supports the strike. But it will be a grand success in Bengal even without their support," Chakraborty said.

Neither Chatterjee nor Sen reacted to Citu's desire to get their support for the strike which has been called to oppose a number of policies of Narendra Modi's government.

Political circles here view Chakraborty's act of seeking Trinamool's support for the strike as a clever ploy to expose "Modi-Mamata nexus." CPIM and their trade union arm Citu are well aware about the fact that Mamata Banerjee's government in no circumstances, will support the strike called against the Centre. Last year too, Mamata's government had opposed the strike vehemently and had taken legal action against those state government employees who had joined it.

CPIM and Citu also know well that it would be impossible for Trinamnool trade union to support the strike as Mamata herself is opposing it. The Marxists and their trade union are of the opinion that Mamata's government will oppose the strike officially and the trade union of the ruling party might remain silent on the issue. By taking advantage of this, CPIM would be able to continue their campaign against Mamata by branding her as Modi loyalist.