Communal poison can divide even workers: CITU VP

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Communalism not only poses a threat to the secular fabric of the country, it could also jeopardise the unity of the working class said former CPI(M) politburo member and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) vice president AK Padmanabhan (in pic) on Wednesday.  

Working class unity is possible only if communalism is defeated, said the trade union leader while coming down heavily on the Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, calling them “anti-labour and antipeople.”

He made the comments on the sidelines of CITU’s 17th All India conference. “The objective today is how to intensify the struggle ag ainst the communal poison that is spreading fast among people of the country. This is creating an impact on the working class too,” Padmanabhan said.

“Communalism divides working people, divides the country, damages the unity of the people and the secular fabric of the country. It is a danger that we are facing. This has to be fought. The communal danger has to be brought to the attention of the masses, exposed, isolated and defeated,” he added.

The union leader said that one of the reasons the BJP had flourished under Modi was because of massive corporate backing. “Corporates and communal forces are working together,” he said. “Their (BJP’s) basic ideology is to divide people on a communal basis with the type of speeches the BJP leaders are making, the RSS leaders are making.

In the circumstances, the danger that lies ahead is the dividing of the working people. Along with that, there are neo-liberal policies, which did not start in 2014. It started in 1991 with PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh and company. In 2014, Modi got an opportunity and they speeded up the whole process of privatisation. What is the result? Oxfam has reported (on inequality) yesterday,” he said.

Padmanabhan conceded that trade unions don’t possess the robust strength they once possessed but were still fighting “with their backs to the wall.” “There was a system in the 50s and 60s. The Labour Department of the government of India and that of the various states were considered labour welfare departments. That has disappeared,” he said.

“At one point of time, there was the support of the government, which did not take a 100 per cent pro-corporate policy. At least, there was a statutory benefit and when it was denied, government departments used to interfere. There was a proper conciliation process. Now, all that has disappeared, but there is the sheer capacity of the workers to force the management to settle things,” he added.

Modi wave will ebb like Indira’s: Padmanabhan Padmanabhan claimed that the Modi government could be defeated at the ballot, reasoning that Indira Gandhi was also popular but had lost in the 1977 general elections.

“There was the Indira wave in the 71 elections. In 77, they lost. In fact, by 1974, the situation had completely changed and by 75, they could rule only through Emergency. The only difference is that they (BJP) have not declared an Emergency,” he said. The former CPI(M) leader had to go into hiding for part of the emergency (1975-77).