Now ‘Z’ Category Security for Mukesh Ambani ?

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

It is reported that the Home Ministry has asked the Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF), which leads the anti-terrorist operations, to provide ‘Z’ category security to Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in the country. This category security includes pilot and follow-on vehicles with commandos equipped with sophisticated weapons. There will be 28 CRPF jawans in the team. Mukesh will be given round-the-clock security.

It seems that this is for the first time that CRPF protection is being given to any private individual. The protection is reportedly being given on the basis of some threat call received by Ambani. In addition to his personal protection, the 27 storeyed palace ‘Antilia’, where he stays in Mumbai also will be given CRPF protection.

The Police force has not sufficient staff even to parole and attend to the daily duties. But a private individual is being given such top priority security employing 28 CRPF personnel. This is outrageous. I am afraid that this is only the starting point. Within a short period all the billionaires and millionaires will be asking for CRPF protection and the government will agree. How shameful!

Post Verification scene – Unite the workers and fight for the rights

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

The results of the membership verification in BSNL is over and the results have been declared on 18th April 2013.

There might have been bitterness, while the election campaign was going on. Now that the election is over and the results are out, all the unions and their leaders have to think about the post-verification situation. BSNL is struggling to survive. In 2012-13, for the fourt consecutive year, it is in loss and the loss is expected to be more than last year. Survival of BSNL is of utmost importance to all the workers and their unions as also for the country. This PSU can not be left to be disinvested and privatised. It has to be strengthened and the services have to be improved. It is not an easy task, especially when the its owner, the Government itself is acting against it.

The main reason for the present situation is the neo-liberal and anti-PSU policy being implemented by the government. The MNCs and corporates are given all benefits and privileges at the cost of BSNL and MTNL.The management has been completely inefficient. The unions and workers have to understand this completely hostile situation and prepare for a sustained and long struggle to change the situation.

Unity of the workers and their unions is very much necessary. All have to bury the hatchets and come together to strengthen BSNL. The struggles organised under the leadership of the Joint Forum/Joint Action Committee/Forum of BSNL Unions – Associations have been able to achieve certain demands of the workers. But that is not sufficient. The most important task is revive the company, which is our bread and butter. Each and every worker has to rise to the occasion.

There may be some reservations for joint actions and working immediately after the contest. We have to go beyond the verification and start joint effort.

I hope that all the unions/associations will take the lead in educating their workers and prepare for joint struggles to save BSNL.

143th Birth anniversary of Com. V.I.Lenin

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in General

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Today, 22nd April 2013,  is the 143rd Birth  anniversary of the leader and architect of Soviet Revolution  Com.V.I.Lenin. For the first time in the world, a soviet state ushered after the 1917 revolution in Russia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). It sustained itself from the brutal attacks of the nearby capitalist countries and grew to be one of the biggest and strongest nation capable of confronting the US, the citadel of capitalism. However, the USSR collapsed in the 1980s.

After 3 decades, the Communist Party  is once again strengthening in the present Russia, as the second biggest party and is becoming influential.

EPF subscribers may get 8.5% interest for 2012-13

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in TU News - India

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided to pay 8.5% interestfor EPF subscribers for the financial year 2012-13. The government is yet to approve the same. There are more than 5 crore EPF subscribers with the EPFO.

Adjourned Budget Session of Parliament restarts tomorrow

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

The adjourned Budget Session of Parliament will restarts tomorrow, 22nd April 2013. It will be a stormy session, no doubt. The leaked draft report of the JPC exonerating the present P.M., Dr. Manmohan Singh and accusing former Prime Minister A.V.Bajpayee for the lapses is sure to be strongly protested by the opposition. The direct attack on the constitutional institution CAG for focussing on the scam will also be exposed.

The inefficiency and callous attitude of the Delhi Police administration, which is directly under the Central Government, in dealing with rape cases and protestors will certainly rock both the houses of Parliament, and Home Minister Shinde will have to answer.

The government wants certain bills to be passed  like increase of FDI in Insurance, Pension etc. The Left Parties will strongly oppose these so-called ‘reforms’ which are intended to maximise the profit of corporates and to marginalise the PSUs.

Finance Minister Chidambaram stated in Washington today that the government wants the FDI in Insurance to be increased from 26% to 49%. He added that if the main opposition BJP supports, this could be passed in this session itself. It is interesting that what is to be done in the Parliament is being first announced in a foreign county, USA. Of course US corporates will be very glad to hear the news. But the workers, specially the Employees of LIC, are not going to accept this lying down. Struggles are on the way to defeat the proposal, as in such instances earlier.

Village in UK, but the mobiles speak French

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

St. Margarets-at-Cliffe is a small village in UK, about 32 km away from the English Channel on the opposite side of France. But if anybody starts to speak on his mobile, the announcements starts in French language, not in English.

There is not much for surprise. The reason seems to be that the French mobile towers are more powerful in this area than the English towers. (A report from AFP News).

Leaked JPC report on 2G – Strong protest by opposition

20 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in 2G Scam Corruption

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

The leaked report of the Joint Parliament Committee on 2G spectrum scam has put the government in a tight spot. The entire opposition has protested against the draft report which has omitted many evidences, ignored documents and did not call the former Communications Minister and the Prime Minster to give evidence. In fact, former Minister Raja against whom charges are levelled wanted to give evidence but was not called by the JPC.

The report is politically motivated and is intended to save the Prime Minister of his role. The opposition parties are  going to sharply react and protest in the Parliament which is going to resume on Monday, 22nd of April.

Rape of 5 year girl – Govt. should act – CITU

20 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

New Delhi, April 20: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is shocked by the horrific rape and brutal assault on a 5 year old girl, daughter of a daily waged casual labourer, in East Delhi on 15 April. The inaction by the police when the father went to report her missing once again highlights the total indifference and hostility displayed by the police force to any complaints from the poorer sections of society. Timely action by the police to find the child could have prevented the ghastly incident.  Adding insult to injury, the father of the rape survivor was offered a bribe of Rs. 2000 by the police to keep quiet over the matter.
The CITU is outraged by the behavior of an ACP who slapped young women protesters at the hospital where the child was admitted. The CITU condemns the criminal dereliction of duty and blatant violation of laws by the supposed enforcers of law and order, and demands that any policemen or officers guilty of these should be dismissed from service immediately, arrested and cases be registered against them.
For effective deterrence the culprits in all cases of violence against women must be arrested and given quick and severe punishment. The CITU demands that fast track courts should be set up all over the country to ensure speedy punishment of the guilty.
It has been a long standing demand of the CITU that the government must provide crèche and day care facilities, especially in working class areas, in order to provide security and care for the children of workers who are at work.
In Delhi, which has become the crime capital of the country, a review must be made of security provided to VIPs, which should be curtailed sharply in order to free police personnel for duties concerning the common residents of the city.   The government is accountable for the deteriorating law and order situation in the country and must take responsibility for the same.
The CITU calls upon the working class to be in the forefront of struggles to stop the violence against women and children.

Brutal Rape of 5 year girl – Delhi is dangerous to girls/women

20 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

The brutal rape and assault on a  5 year girl has shown once again that Delhi is not safe for girls and women. Despite the strong and massive protest in the rape of the young para-medical student in December 2012 and the assurance of the Central government who controls the Delhi Police that severe actions will be taken such heinous crimes are on the increase.

The insensitivity of the police is revealed once again. Instead of immediately filing FIR and taking action to catch the culprit, it is stated, they offered money to the parents of the girl to keep quiet. And one top police officer beat the young girls who were protesting against the brutal rape and demanding action.

The central government is fully responsible, since it is in charge of the Delhi Police. The Prime Minister should take immediate action to sack the Home Minister and the Commissioner of Police to ensure that such negligent attitude on the part of the police is not continued. Delhi should be made safe for the girl and Women, and for every citizen.

 

 

Club Allowances with pay for EPF contributions

20 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in TU News - India

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A tripartite body set up by the Labour Ministry has accepted the recommendations of the EPFO recommendation to club the various allowances with wages for calculating the contributions to the Employees Provident Fund. However, this proposal has been strongly opposed by the employers’ organisations. They have been opposing the recommendations on the basis that they will have to contribute more to the EPFO since it should be on the same amount that the employees are contributing.

The Labour Ministry should accept the recommendations and issue orders without any delay.