Expressing solidarity with the trade unions that had given a call for two-day nationwide strike against the Narendra Modi government’s privatisation plans, Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday sought a discussion on the issue.
But the strike call by the central trade unions (CTUs) also saw sharp political differences between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress on the floor of the House.
TMC leader Sougata Roy, raising the issue during the Zero Hour, asserted that the “massive response” to the strike was a reflection of the unhappiness of the people. “The Government should understand that people are unhappy over its policies to sell out everything,” Mr. Roy said and sought a discussion on the issue in the House.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, speaking after the TMC leader, said the TMC was trying to mislead the House and accused the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal of trying to thwart the strike.
“In West Bengal, these people through their party workers are thwarting labour interests. It is a sorry state of affairs, here in this House they [Trinamool] speak of labour interest but are working to thwart it in the State,” Mr. Chowdhury said.
The Congress leader said all trade unions, except the BJP-affiliated Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, participated in the strike to urge the government to “stop plundering” national resources. The entire Opposition had given “full throated” support to the trade unions, Mr. Chowdhury added.
A joint forum of CTUs is protesting against the government policies affecting workers, farmers, and people.
