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Wednesday, Jan 03, 2007
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Pro-American tilt in foreign policy: AITUC

Special Correspondent

No economic justification in signing nuclear deal: Dasgupta

NEW DELHI: The All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Tuesday expressed concern over what it called the pro-American tilt in foreign policy. While appreciating Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's speech at Havana, the Communist Party of India-backed outfit disapproved the signing of the civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

"There is no economic justification for signing the treaty," AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said in his report at the union's working committee meeting in Kolkata.

Mr. Dasgupta welcomed the Government move to normalise relations with Pakistan, expand trade and economic cooperation and increase people-to-people contact between the two countries.

Nepal situation

Describing the restoration of democracy in Nepal as a victory for its people, including those who led an armed struggle against the monarchical despotism, the AITUC said the events in that country vividly signified that if the problems of poverty, deprivation and hunger were not addressed expeditiously, people would revolt and even take to extra-constitutional methods.

"The AITUC fervently believes that the trade union movement of the country must more vigorously and relentlessly lead the battle against human deprivation, hunger, poverty and unemployment and emerge as the champion of the national crusade for the improvement of the living conditions of the people," Mr. Dasgupta said.

Economic scenario

The country's economic scenario was grim. The interests of the poor, the lower middleclass, the working masses, unorganised labour, peasants and agricultural labour were grossly hurt. The United Progressive Alliance Government, like the earlier Governments, was pandering to the interests of the rich and the super-rich, the affluent middleclass, foreign and domestic corporates, and remained blind to the basic human problems. "In fact, the Government seeks to help the capitalism to consolidate and tighten its grip on economy."

A capitalist system that seeks to consolidate with the aid of a colluding state power and an appeasing political system had thrown a challenge to the nation, particularly to the working masses, either to counteract its move thriving on the sweat and blood of the toilers or continue to live in dire distress, Mr. Dasgupta said.

On the political scenario, he said the Government had failed hold the price line, create jobs, stem the agricultural crisis and end violation of labour laws. This had created resentment among a large section of people.

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