From the Past – Punjab Tour in 1995

It was the time after Thiruvananthapuram All India Conference of E.III Union (NFTE)in 1994. Membership Verification of unions for recognition was in the agenda. Government, DOT, NFTE combined team attacking E.III Union and mass transfers of its office bearers at all levels. Hectic tours being organized by union. Following is an example of the tour programme organized in Punjab during September 1995.

24th.Sept. – Started from Delhi at 13.00 hours – Bus from ISBT to Chandigarh. Reached Chandigarh at 19.00 hours. Circle Secretaries Com. H.S.Dhillon (E.III) and R.L.Moudgil (T.III), Gurcharan Singh, Vice President received at Bus stand. Discussion about tour. Stayed in office.

25th – Met Com. Baldev Singh, CC Member, CPI(M). At 08.00 started by Jeep along with Comrades Gurcharan Singh, H.S.Dhillon, R.L.Moudgil and Swaran Singh. Driver also union comrade. Reached at Ropar, a small exchange. Discussed with the comrades there, explained certain issues. Next meeting at Navshahar. Received by Coms. Mahajan and Banka DS. Small meeting. By about 15.00 hours Hoshiarpur. Two brief meetings at TRA and Exchange / DMT Office. Next stop at Pathankot, where Railway Comrades became martyrs in 1968 September 19 strike. Meeting held at residence of Com. Mahajan DS, T.III. since opposition by officers at office. Stay and food also there.

26th – However a meeting organized in front of Pathankot exchange. A meeting at TRAO office. Com. Satpal Singh reached. Meeting first at Gurudaspur and then at Batala. Stay at Satpal Singh’s house.

27th – Early morning started for Amritsar. City of Golden Temple and Jalianwala Bagh. Though members are very less, held a meeting at Amritsar. OPG’s followers tried to stop entering the office. Myself went to Trunk room and spoke for about half an hour. Meeting at Telegraph Office also. The to Jalandhar. Big city. Meeting there also. Stayed at office.

28th – Started for Ludhiana, big manufacturing city. Separate meetings at GMT(O), TRA etc. Very big meeting at telephone exchange. Place of Com. Gurcharan Singh, All India Vice-President. That of Coms. Balbir Singh and Balbinder Singh. Next meeting at Moga participated by a large number of workers. Dt. Secretary Com. Jaswant Singh. Two more meetings at Faridkot and Firozpur. Stay at Kamaljit Singh’s home at Moga.

29th – Continues journey from Moga and attended meetings at Kotkapura, Muktsar, Malot, Bhatinda and reached Sangrur. Stay at office.

30th – Very good meeting at Sangrur in the morning. Next meeting at Patiala. Though the fort of the revisionists, held meeting. Questions answered. Many joined our union. Returned to Chandigarh in the evening. In the night by bus to Delhi and reached next day morning.

Almost all the important centres covered in Punjab in seven days and meeting held at about 30 centres. Sometimes lunch, otherwise snacks or fruits to save time. Hectic tour. Punjab which was a strong state of revisionists, within years came to our side. Thanks to the Punjab Comrades!