BMS flays Centre for 'anti-labour' policies

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 5. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the trade union wing of the Sangh Parivar, has attacked the anti-labour policies of the Government and its stand on the World Trade Organisation (WTO). It is moving ahead to launch a nation-wide movement to focus on their adverse impact on the country. It wants the Government to reconsider its stand on globalisation and quit the WTO.

The philosopher-founder of the BMS, the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Mr. Dattopant Thengdi, will lead the organisation in raising the banner of revolt by giving ``a clarion call'' to unite against the malafide intentions of developed countries and the anti-poor and anti-labour policies of the Centre. He will ``blow the trumpet'' by addressing a workers and farmers' rally at Ramlila Grounds here on April 16 when Parliament resumed its sitting.

At a press conference here today, the union's national secretary, Mr. Ramdas Pandey, warned the Government against the disastrous consequences of its obstinate stand on the WTO.

He said the BMS had been expressing its concern to successive governments about the real intentions of developed countries in forcing WTO on India. It had cautioned the nation about their nefarious designs to capture the gigantic Indian market. But, what was not being realised was that ``this is not only against the basic values of temperament of the Indian society but will also be detrimental to the interest of commerce, trade and employment in the country.''

Referring to the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) announced by various Government-run organisations, he said the pace of sugar- coated retrenchment was fraught with the danger of disintegration of the social fabric.

`` While the BMS is not against foreign trade, what we want is that trade must not be done under duress and distress. It should be free in spirit. If a nation feels that opening up of certain areas could be injurious to its economic interest and health, it should have every right to continue reasonable restrictions.'' On the contrary, `` what we see today is that successive regimes in New Delhi have succumbed to the pressures of developed countries, notably the U.S.A.. Latest in the series, is the lifting of quantitative restrictions (QR) on import of 715 consumer items. Last year, QRs were lifted from 714 such items. The consequences are before us''.

The economic slow down was a direct result of over- dependence on the U.S. economy. The industrial growth rate was experiencing a constant fall since the era of unmindful liberalisation in 1991. The most adversely affected area of the economy was the small- scale sector that was not only the largest employer but also the largest exporter.

Targeting the Budget presented by the Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, he said the Budget had hit the Indian farmer most devastatingly. Lifting of QRs from agricultural products was going to hit the largest contributor to the GDP.

While developed countries were looking for greener pastures, ``our successive regimes have welcomed them with open arms. Some have acted more loyal than the king,'' Mr. Pandey said citing the amendment in the labour laws, dilly dallying over the Enron issue and finally ``succumbing to it'', disinvestment deals and the advancing of date for lifting of QRs on U.S. imports.

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