NEW DELHI: Left leaders on Sunday asked the people to come together to fight the growing imperialist globalisation, where one man was being exploited by the other.

At a seminar on "Imperialist globalisation: a perspective from the Left," organised by the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) at the India Social Forum here, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said it was time to sharpen weapons to fight against the present phase of globalisation. "We cannot move towards socialism without opposing capitalism that is the basis of imperialist globalisation."

He said capitalism led to exploitation to earn maximum benefits that often remained in the hands of a few. Explaining the dynamics of globalisation, Mr. Yechury said it insisted on removal of restrictions on the movement of capital that was a direct attack on the economic sovereignty of any country, which was followed by the attack on its political freedom.

S. Debroy of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said the new economic order was an onslaught not only on the union movement but also an attack on the workers. There was no employment generation, the labour rights were being suppressed and the quality of employment was also deteriorating. In order to attract foreign direct investment, the Government was giving concessions to multinationals for which the labourers were paying a heavy price.

Privatisation

Pointing out that privatisation was the main aim of the globalisation, the CITU leader said the Government's priorities were also changing and the role of judiciary had also turned anti-workers.

Economist C.P. Chandrasekhar accused the United States of perpetuating globalisation only to "plunder the wealth of the Third World countries by utilising their resources and markets." While it was a fact that the American economy was declining with its trade and current account showing a huge deficit, it had been able to sustain itself on the investments from other countries. "It is because of the U.S.' military dominance that the world's wealth holders are investing there."

Speaking on "feminisation of poverty as a result of imperialist globalisation," Sudha Sundaraman of the All-India Democratic Women's Association said women were the worst affected. "Globalisation comes with a mask of development, but ends up attacking the economic and political integrity of the country," she said. She called for intensifying the fight against the process.

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