Congress TU joins protest against govt

NEW DELHI: Whether it was the Left slogan ���jo hamse takraega, choor choor ho jayega��� or the saffron ���Bharat mata ki jai��� or the INTUC���s ���mazdoor ko mehengai nahi chalegi���, the target was the same ��� the Manmohan Singh government.

In the heart of the capital on Wednesday, the Congress-affiliated INTUC openly joined the Left and RSS trade union wings in attacking the UPA���s economic policies. Leaders of 10 central trade unions took to the streets protesting rise in prices of essential commodities, disinvestment of profit-making PSUs, violation of trade union rights, job loss and failure to constitute a National Welfare Fund for unorganised labour.

The rare show of solidarity was part of the All India Protest Day call given by trade unions seeking a review of the government���s approach towards policies. INTUC leader Sanjeeva Reddy, who joined Left leaders ��� Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC), M K Pandhe and Tapan Sen (CITU) and Abani Roy (UTUC) ��� besides BMS��� Subba Rao, announced that the next step of the agitation will be to hold a dharna during the Winter Session of Parliament beginning next month.

Mr Reddy said the trade unions had their own role to play and asked the government to keep in mind workers��� interests while formulating policies. He also sought strengthening of the trade union movement and asked that government hold discussions with the CTUs on their demands.

Mr Dasgupta said all trade unions were sharing a platform for the first time in several decades. He said politics should not come in the way of the trade unions��� role in the country. ���This is a prelude to a still bigger trade union action to defend workers��� lives and protect their livelihood,��� said a statement issued after the protest action. The trade unions had held a national convention last month to chalk out their agitation plans.

The trade unions action has taken a new dimension in the light of the strike in Gurgaon, where about 100,000 workers belonging to various unions struck work after a worker was killed in a clash between two groups of employees. The trade unions are of the view that it has brought to the fore their significance in addressing workers��� issues.