GRAND WELCOME: CPI leader and AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta welcoming a delegate from Pakistan, Durrani, during a rally on the Ramlila Grounds to mark the 38th session of AITUC in New Delhi on Saturday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

NEW DELHI: The 38th session of the All-India Trade Union Congress, first to be held in Delhi after Independence, saw fireworks on Saturday as senior Left leaders A.B. Bardhan and Gurudas Dasgupta denounced the economic and foreign policies of the United Progressive Alliance Government and warned that it should adhere to the Common Minimum Programme.

While criticising disinvestment in profit-making public sector undertakings and tinkering with the sensitive insurance and banking sectors, the leaders said they were not opposed to foreign direct investment as long as it generated employment in new sectors.

Addressing a large gathering on the Ramlila grounds, where delegates from 10 countries were also felicitated, Communist Party of India general secretary Bardhan said while the Left parties knew that with just 61 seats in the Lok Sabha they could not implement a socialist agenda, they wanted the Congress to remember that it could not run the government without Left support

Retaining character

The Left wanted the private, joint and government sectors to grow and supported FDI in new sectors where it generated employment, brought in new technology and led to creation of more permanent assets. "FDI is coming in China but the country has not deserted socialism or its freedom. We want India also to retain its character."

The Left did not want FDI in retail as five crore people owned or worked in small shops and their livelihoods would be affected. It was also opposed to the hire and fire policy and creation of special economic zones, as in Goa, where the labour laws of the land would not be applicable.

Noting that the Left had fought British imperialists, Mr. Bardhan said now American capitalism wanted to rule the world. Iraq and Afghanistan were being attacked as the United States wanted to control their markets and oil. While the U.S. spoke of democracy, 30 per cent of its population still lived below the poverty line and most of the poor were the African Americans, who had been brought as slaves. The recent hurricane in New Orleans demonstrated how the U.S. continued to ignore them.

Pointing out that the per capita detention rate in the U.S. prisons was the highest, Mr. Bardhan said people were also being taken there from Iraq and Afghanistan as prisoners of war and ill-treated. While a "new Hitler regime" had been formed, the UPA regime was still following the National Democratic Alliance Government's policy of treating the U.S. as a "natural ally."

Warning that the U.S. was now eyeing Iran, which pursued a peaceful nuclear programme, Mr. Bardhan said it was sad that while Teheran always supported New Delhi's cause in the Organisation of Islamic Countries vis-à-vis Pakistan, India voted against it on the nuclear issue.

The CPI leader accused the King of Nepal of taking a bloody route to the throne and destroying the multiparty system.

"He throttled democracy, tried to malign the political parties and blamed Maoists. But now the King should be shown his place. This is the era of democracies and the days of monarchy are gone."

It was good that the political parties in Nepal were united in their fight for the restoration of democracy.

Respect for local laws

AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said while the party was not opposed to foreign companies coming to India, it wanted them to respect local laws and the rights of workers.

He regretted that the UPA Government was following in the footsteps of the NDA regime, which was ousted for its anti-farmer and anti-labour policies. "This is a capitalist government running on World Trade Organisation and World Bank guidelines. They want to reduce the provident fund rate now and do not want to allow union activity in the information technology sector and application of Industrial Disputes Act in units employing less than 300 people."

Pointing out that the government had brought down corporate tax from 35 to 30 per cent and reduced income tax on those drawing over Rs. 10 lakhs, Mr. Dasgupta said there was an urgent need to increase taxes on the rich, landlords, high-rise building owners, private hospitals and schools and to curb tax evasion and defaults on loans to generate more revenue for fuelling India's growth.

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