Opposition parties support coal workers’ mass strike against coal Ordinance

NEW DELHI: Opposition parties, which converged against the government over the conversion issue during last month’s Parliament session, are now looking for a unifying political glue outside Parliament to attack the Modi administration over promulgating a series of ordinances over key policies.

On Wednesday, opposition parties such as the Congress, Janata Parivar, Trinamool Congress and CPI-M extended their support to the ongoing strike by coal workers against the coal block ordinance, which they allege will lead to the denationalisation of coal mining. This even as the opposition parties are exploring the possibilities of a more coordinated agitation against the Centre over “the Ordinabce Raj”, especially on the one to amend the land acquisition Act.

“It is important to note that even the pro-BJP trade union, BMS, has joined other central trade unions’ strike,” AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said on Wednesday, while announcing the party’s support to the coal workers strike. “We also condemn this government’s tendency to bypass Parliament by resorting to Ordinance Raj,” he added.

The AICC has decided to hold a "chetna abhiyan" (awareness campaign) across the country to take the land acquisition ordinance issue to farmers, a much sought-after political constituency. The Congress leadership says the ordinance will adversely affect the interests of farmers.

Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav accused the BJP-led government of trying to sell natural resources “to vested interests through unjustifiable ordinances” after “creating a deliberate stand-off in Parliament through Prime Minister’s refusal to condemn the divisive agenda of the Sangh parivar”. Yadav said he as well as Mulyam Singh Yadav and Nitish Kumar will meet in Delhi on Thursday to chalk out a national agitation and will coordinate with other parties such as the Congress and Trinamool Congress as well on the issue.