Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), with a leaning towards the Sangh Parivar, did not take part in the all-India strike Tuesday called by the Left and Congress-backed trade unions as it wanted the protest to be organised in November, a top leader said.
“Not that we are against any of the demands raised by the strikers. We all also want the price rise to be curbed and anti-labour policies to be stopped,” Akhtar Hussain, all-India vice-president of the BMS told IANS over phone from Karnataka.

“We could not agree with the communists and other strikers over the timing. We wanted the strike some time in November,” Hussain said.

The BMS, with a claimed membership of 3 million for itself and 7 million others for its affiliate unions, is recognised as the largest trade union in the country, surpassing Left unions like the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the pro-Congress Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

Hussain listed a number of reasons for the BMS staying away from the strike, which hit the industrial and service sectors Tuesday.

Striking Tuesday would have sent a negative message to foreign countries when Commonwealth Games are at the doorstep, he said.

Also, Tuesday’s strike comes too close after the nationwide shutdown organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and joined by other opposition parties. Workers cutting across sectors had joined the bandh and expressed their protest at the government policies during the July 5 strike.

According to Hussain, the BMS suggested that Tuesday’s strike should be put off till November, which the Left unions did not agree.

The BMS had convened its national committee meeting from Sep 5-7 in Karnataka. This was scheduled much before the strike decision.

The BMS leader said it will continue its opposition to the “anti-labour policies of the central government” in the future too. It is planning a programme of protests in November.

Will the BMS join hands with the Left and Congress unions in a strike in the future?

“It all depends on the issues, the consultations we have and the consensus we arrive at. But, we are ready to cooperate on common causes,” Hussain told IANS.