People's Democracy

ON April 19, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury visited the BALCO township to express solidarity with the striking workers. He told them that the CPI(M) will not allow the central government to loot the nation’s assets as has been attempted by the BALCO sell-off. He said the strike would not only reverse the sell-off but would prevent the future sale of profit-making public sector undertakings, which are the nation’s jewels. He said the national property was being looted by vested interests in the present central government.

Earlier, the Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi and Yechury had jointly expressed solidarity with the striking workers and pledged to prevent any sell-off of other units.

Later in the evening, the entire township turned up to hear Yechury who explained in depth the disastrous economic policy being pursued by the Vajpayee government. Yechury also presented a token cheque from the CPI(M) in support of the striking workers.

In another development, at a special meeting, central trade unions decided to solidly stand in support of the ongoing strike by BALCO workers against privatisation. They also decided to organise nationwide demonstrations in all industries and establishments, in solidarity with the BALCO workers’ struggle against privatisation. The meeting was held on April 19 in the BMS office and was presided over by BMS organising secretary O P Aghi. Leaders like Mukund Gore (BMS), Chandidas (INTUC), K L Mahendra (AITUC), P K Ganguli (CITU), A D Nagpal (HMS) and Achintya Singha (UTUC-LS) attended the meeting.

The unions also asked the prime minister and the labour minister to convene a meeting with central trade unions for an amicable solution of the issue.

They appealed to the working people of the country to rush financial support to help the BALCO workers sustain their struggle, which has already crossed seven weeks. All donations may be sent by A/C Payee demand drafts drawn in favour of "Balco Bachao Sanyukta Abhiyan Samity" and payable at Korba, Chhattisgarh.

The trade unions further decided that if nothing transpires despite joint persuasion by all of them, all of them will go for countrywide action including strike around the middle of May. (INN)