The Hindu : INTUC, BMS flayed for keeping off from May 21 stir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

INTUC, BMS flayed for keeping off from May 21 stir

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD April 24. M.K. Pandhe, CITU all-India general secretary, has criticised the INTUC and the BMS for not joining the nationwide general strike on May 21 called by the CITU, AITUC, HMS and UTUC (LS) to press for their eight-point charter of demands.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Pandhe, who was in the city in connection with the Singareni Collieries elections slated for May 14, asserted that the trade unions had forced the Government to change its policies following a sustained campaign.

He said that there was all-round support for the strike call as evident by the participation of employees of both the Central and State governments, banks, organisations of peasants and agricultural workers besides students and youth.

The strike is turning out to be a popular movement against the Centre's policies, as different political parties are to call for a bandh to coincide with the strike.

Referring to the political developments in the country, he charged the Centre with adopting a "clear pro-US shift in policies,'' for trying to get contracts in Iraq. ``We are trying to be in the good books of the US. Both India and Pakistan are trying to appease the US hoping to get its support.'' The previous governments were genuinely non-aligned, whereas this Government is aligned to the US," he contended.

Mr. Pandhe alleged that the VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal are making open statements defying the ban on Trishuls and trying to "rouse Hindu chauvinistic tensions," with the BJP encouraging them. On this issue, he said the CPI(M) wanted to know the stand of the Telugu Desam president, N. Chandrababu Naidu. "He may be having an underhand deal with the BJP, hence he is not taking a clear stand.''

Referring to the Ram temple, he appealed to secular parties like the DMK and the Rashtriya Lok Dal headed by Omprakash Chautala to take a clear stand against the BJP agenda "which was now no more hidden.''

He refuted the allegation that the CPI (M) was not allowing the activists of other parties to file nominations in the West Bengal panchayat elections, claiming that "they were not able to find candidates.''

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INTUC, BMS flayed for keeping off from May 21 stir