The Hindu : National : CPI(M) wants amendment on right to strike

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Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

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National

CPI(M) wants amendment on right to strike

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 7. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today asked the Government to bring a constitutional amendment to make the right to strike a fundamental one and suggested that a public debate be undertaken on the issue.

The CPI (M) Rajya Sabha leader, Nilotpal Basu, said the issue should be addressed to determine the circumstances in which parties and organisations could exercise the right to strike. He said the party was against the idea that organising a strike was not in line with constitutional rights. He said already a debate had begun in political circles on the fundamental right to strike and it was important to have a wide-ranging discussion.

Mr. Basu said today several State and Central Government employees held a march to Parliament demanding the right to strike. He said they had collected over three crore signatures to press their demand.

The issue, he said, assumed significance in the context of the action by the Tamil Nadu Government in dismissing two lakh government employees in one go. He said the action led to change in political equations in the State before the general elections.

Judicial reforms

Mr. Basu said the debate should also be held along with the larger question of judicial reforms. He said at times, legislatures discuss issues that fall in the exclusive domain of the judiciary and that there was a need to evolve non-confrontational relations between the legislature, judiciary and the executive.

Left for more scrutiny

Having abstained in the Lok Sabha from voting on the passage of the Bill to replace the ordinance amending the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Left parties have decided to engage the Government over its approach in the Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Basu said there was a "slight difference" with the United Progressive Alliance Government over the amendments to the Act since some provisions were similar to those in the now repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).

"We think the amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act needs further scrutiny but at the same time, we want to address the security concerns," he said adding that the Left parties was one with the Government in doing away with the POTA.

It is understood that the Left leaders in the Rajya Sabha would meet the parliamentary affairs managers of the Congress and ruling coalition tomorrow on the issue.

Congress hopeful

The Congress spokesman, Anand Sharma, said the party was hopeful that the Bill would be passed by the Rajya Sabha and not referred to a standing committee, as was being demanded by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

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