13th May 2012 was celebrated by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha holding separate sessions and later a joint session. The President, Vice-President, Speaker, Prime minister as also the leaders of the various parties addressed the sessions. The speakers remembered the earlier important developments and also suggested how the conduct of the parliament can be improved, including a minimum sittings in a year. It was very interesting and informative to hear the speeches. If all the political parties and the leaders stick to the various good suggestions, there is no doubt that the Indian Democracy will march ahead to new heights.

But by the time the separate sessions were to end, there were hardly ten to twenty members present. Of course it continuous and MPs might have gone for lunch. But they should have ensured that at least a sizable number are present.

The pilots of the Air India is on agitation for the last 6 days and thousands of travellers have been put  to difficulty due to the cancellation of the flights. The former Air India Pilots are complaining that they are being completely ignored and denied in the training of the new ‘Dream Liner’ planes compared to the former Indian Airlines pilots. We do not know the details of their demands etc. The government has declared a tough stand there will no talk with the pilots union, unless the agitation is called off. The union has been derecognised, 71 pilots have been sacked and action is being taken to cancel the licences of the agitating pilots.

Is it the method to be adopted when the workers are on struggle. Why can’t the minister agree to talk with the union and sort out the issue. Settlement is the next stage,but why can’t you talk and try for a solution? The government may also remember that all the employees including the pilots are working without receiving the salary for months.

Such hard and stubborn stand taken by the government of India in the 1960 strike by the central government employees  terming it as Civil Rebellion and the victimisation of lakhs of employees by arresting, jailing, dismissing, terminating, suspending and what not, has not helped the government. In the face of public opinion and further struggles, the victimisation had to be stopped and every employee to be reinstated. In a democracy it is the responsibility of the government to discuss and settle the grievances of the workers to the extent possible. The best way to sort out the issues is an immediate dialogue by the Minister and Air India Management  with the agitating pilots. I hope the government will do it to end the unpleasant situation.