CITU Kerala State Conference Begins

Eleventh CITU  Kerala State Conference, started here in Thrissur with a clarion call to build an united Trade union movement to confront the challenged posed by the neo-liberal policies. CITU All India President Inaugurated the Delegate Session. The Delegate session started with flag hoisting by Com . K N Raveendranath, CITU State President. Afterwards the delegates payed homage to the Martyrs. After the inaugural sesssion, Com M M Lawrance, CITU State Secretary tabled the Organizational Report.

Unity of trade unions vital: M.K. Pandhe

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) president M.K. Pandhe has said the unity of trade unions is vital in the struggle for the emancipation of the working class. He was addressing the 11th State conference of the CITU here on Thursday.

Charter of demands

“Transcending political divides, trade unions are fighting for a five-point charter of demands: checking spiralling prices of essential commodities, growing unemployment, collapse of labour laws, rampant privatisation and setting up of a special fund for the social security of the working class.”

“The central trade unions will launch a nation-wide ‘Jail Baro Andolan’ on March 5 to press for the demands. The CITU, INTUC, BMS, HMS, UTUC, AICCTU and TUCC will take part in it.,”

Dr. Pandhe pooh-poohed the Union government’s claims that the country was enjoying economic progress.

“India ranks 134th among 182 countries in human development, according to the ‘Human Development Report 2009 Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development’ published by the UNDP. India has 52 dollar billionaires who control one-fourth of the economy. The Union government’s economic packages had boosted the profitability of industries, but they have not helped workers. As many as one crore workers have lost jobs following recession. Minimum wages are not implemented,” he said.

Media downplays violence by Hindutva brigade: Pinarayi

CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged that the media overstates terror activities perpetrated by a minority among the Muslim community, but downplays violence and extremism committed by the Hindutva brigade.

He was addressing a seminar on ‘Challenges raised by fundamentalism and terrorism’ held as part of the 11th State conference of CITU here on Thursday. “Consider how the issue of Malegaon blast was handled. You may have noticed that there is no propaganda against the RSS in this case,” he said.

He condemned the reported tendency to see all Muslims as fundamentalists.

“Only a few members of the community have chosen the wrong path of terrorism. They have taken a suicidal step and it needs to be condemned. Terrorism is not an answer to the problems faced by minorities. People should know that solutions can be derived only through democratic, humanistic means,” he said. He alleged that the Congress was in cahoots with fundamentalists.

“The Indian Union Muslim League, a member of the UDF, protects the National Development Front. Why should the Congress, which claims to be a secular party, tie up with the NDF?”

He said the Congress and its then Prime Minister could not wash its hands of having promoted and protected forces that demolished the Babri Masjid. “Who promoted Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and ultimately toppled him? History has recorded its aftermath,” he said.

A. Vijayaraghavan and P.R. Rajan, MPs; LDF convener Vaikom Viswan; CPI(M) district secretary Baby John; M.M. Varghese, general convener of the conference; and Ninan Koshy were present.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)