The Third General Strike by Indian Working Class on 9th September 1993
The General Strike called by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions and Independent Federations on 16th June 1992 was a great success. Maximum campaign was organised on the demands finalised by the committee.
However, the central government continued its attack on the working class by imposing restrictions as dictated by the IMF-World Bank combine. The New Economic Policy hit hard all sections of the society. Prices have risen very high increasing poverty of majority of the people. The deregularisation of the economy had strengthened the grip of the capitalists and big business at the cost of the small scale sector. Public sector is being systematically dismantled through disinvestment, privatisation and closure of sick units. The Exit Policy has endangered jobs of millions of workers. Students and youth are facing a bleak future with dwindling job opportunities. Communal and divisive forces are taking upperhand, with the government silent on the attacks on secular, democratic and patriotic forces.
Under these circumstances, sustained struggles by working class with the support of the people at large became unavoidable. The National Convention of Mass Organisations held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 15th April 1993 reviewed the situation after the two General Strikes on 29th November 1991 and 16th June 1992 as also the Massive Rally held before Parliament on 25th November 1992 decided to constitute the “ Platform of Mass Organisations Against Govt.’s Economic Policies and Communalism” and called upon the mass organisations to rally the toiling masses behind the important issues facing the people and workers. A 20 Point Charter of Demands was adopted and the following programmes of action decided:
1.Statewise/ Districtwise etc. Joint Conventions to be completed by 15th June 1993.
2. Statewise Jathas, Padayatras, Rallies, Demonstrations to be completed by July
3. Massive Court Arrrest on 19th August 1993.
4. Bharat Bandh and Countrywide Industrial Strike on 9th September 1993.
A National Convention of the central government employees was held on 12th July 1993 at the Constitution Club, New Delhi participated by more than two hundred delegates from AIRF, NFIR, AIDEF, NDEF, Confederation, NFPE, FNPO, NFTE, FNTO etc. Coms. J.P.Chaubey (AIRF), P.N.Sharma (NFIR), S.K.Vyas (Confederation), Augustine (AIDEF), O.P.Gupta (NFTE), V.A.N.Namboodiri (E.III – NFTE), P.Balakrishnan (NFPE) and other leaders addressed the Convention. The Convention unanimously adopted a resolution calling upon the Central Government Employees to go on strike on 9th September 1993.
Bharat Bandh and General Strike on 9th September 1993.
The Bharat Bandh and General Strike on 9th September 1993 was a grand success. As per the estimates of the Trade Unions, it was much better than the last General Strike on 16th June 1992. The wider participation of the peasants and other rural masses, the youth, women and the students apart, from the working class made the General Strike a historical event. The people came in protest against the New Economic Policy of the Narasimha Rao Government and against forces of Communalism. People raised their voice against the blatant surrender to capitalist pressures and threat to the sovereignty of the country.
The Central government employees all over the country exhibited their determination by an unprecedented extent of participation in the strike through out the country.