Support To Port & UP Electricity Workers

Date: 
Wednesday, January 19, 2000

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the brutal repression resorted to by the BJP-led government against the striking U.P. Electricity workers and the Port & Dock workers. Instead of attending to the legitimate grievances of the workers and reconsidering the policy of privatisation of state undertakings the government is using the navy, army, CISF, Coast Guards, home guards to act as strike-breakers. Such measures will weaken the democratic structure of the country by ignoring the just demands of the workers. These struggles are receiving wider support among the people of India.

The large number of arrests of U.P electricity workers and engineers and the use of ESMA in industrial disputes is equally condemnable and shows the anti-working class character of the BJP government.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) appeals to all democratic public opinion to rise in protest against these policies of the BJP government.

The Polit Bureau urges upon the Prime Minister to immediately call a meeting of trade union leaders involved in the dispute so that the legitimate issues for which the workers are on strike are settled at an early date.