Budget – Where it pinches

17 Saturday Mar 2012

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With out any iota of doubt, it can be seen that the budget is a corporate-oriented budget. It is against the common people. One need not  go anywhere to find this simple truth; Only see which are the items going to be costly as per the new budget presented by Pranab Mukherjee Finance Minister ably guided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Dy. Chairman, Planning Commission, Ahluwalia.

For the following the cost/price will increase:

Petroleum Products, Cement, bicycle, Hotel food, Gold Jewellery, Gold coins, Platinum, Diamonds, Computers, Two-wheelers, Branded dresses, refrigerator, A/C, Washing machine, Soap,tobacco products like cigarette and Beedi etc.  These are all mainly used by the common people including the middle class.

Not even a single demand raised by the 11 central trade unions in the successful 28th February Strike has been accepted by the Government and did not reflect in the budget proposals.

There is no other way but to continue the struggle against the anti-pepole proposals in the budget.

Comrade EMS Namboodiripad – a legend in his own time

17 Saturday Mar 2012

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19th March 2012, is the 14th death anniversary of  Com. E.M.S.Namboodiripad, the Communist ideologue of international fame and the leader who was at the helm of Communist leadership for about six decades, in the most difficult times. He was the first Chief Minister of Kerala and had been the Chief Minister for three different terms.

Born  on 14th March 1909  in a big orthodox feudal land-lord  family of Elamkulam ( in the present Malappuram District), EMS in his student days and later fought against the old and dilapidated systems of the Brahmin Community along with a team of progressive youngsters which could bring in many reforms especially for the girls and women in the community. A monthly called ‘Unni Namboothiri’ was regularly published focusing on the need to reform the community. Later most of these young social reformers joined the Communist Party.

Com.EMS jumped in to the freedom movement in his early days and participated in the independent struggle. Later he joined the Congress- Socialist party and later the Communist Party of India. He was one of the first  comrades who formed the Communist Party in Kerala. Com.P.Krishna Pillai, EMS and AK Gopalan were three leaders who gave a sound basis for the party in Kerala. He was a voracious reader and his analysis of the day-to-day developments and explaining the same in simple terms to the people was a continued affair till his death. It can be stated that since the age of 20 till his death he continued to write and speak on the various socio- economic and on almost all matters, especially politics. His writings have been published after his death by the CPI(M) in  100 big volumes.

In the first election after the formation of Kerala state in 1957, Communist Party won and the first Communist Ministry was formed with Com. EMS as the Chief Minister. The land-mark land reforms and the progressive Education Bill became role model for other states, but the land-lord feudal dominated Congress could not tolerate the people-friendly decisions. EMS government was dismissed in 1959, barely after two years it was elected, without any justification.

When the Communist Party was split due to the pro-government and reformist stand of the then leadership, Com. EMS along with Comrades P.Sundarayya,  AKG, Jyoti Basu, BTR, Ramamurthi and others walked out from the Central Committee and formed the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The Congress government with the full support of the CPI unleashed terror and put most of the leaders of the CPI(M) in jails. After Com.P.Sundarayya, the first General Secretary, Comrade EMS was elected as General Secretary and continued till he, on his own, relinquished the post due to old age. But he continued in the PB and Central Committee till his death.

I had the fortune to meet him several times and interact. Many times when he used to come to Calicut, I met him at the Railway station and sometimes arranged his food also, which was to be prepared strictly according to the diet recommended by his doctor. He inaugurated the All India Conference of AITEU Class III in Thiruvananthapuram in 1994, where I was elected as its General Secretary.  During the period I was Circle Secretary of the union and at Thiruvananthapuram, at least once in a month I used to go to his residence and meet the family.

On the fateful day of 19th March 1998, I was getting down at the Railway Station at Agartala to attend a Conference, when Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Circle Secretary, informed me that Com. E.M.S. has passed away a few hours back. Since I was in the train, I had not heard the sad  news. I wanted to go to Thiruvananthapuram to attend his last journey, but there was no immediate conveyance to reach there.  I paid my homage there in Agartala itself.

On his 14th death anniversary, I pay my respected homage to the great communist leader. Red Salute to Com. EMS!

 

 

 

Subsidies to food, fuel, fertiliser etc. reduced – more burden on poor

17 Saturday Mar 2012

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The Budget 2012-13 is a serious attack on the common people and the working class. The Left and other opposition parties have been demanding for a more poor-oriented budget so that the common people will get some relief from the high-rocketting prices of vegetables and other essential commodities. But the Government is having other priorities. They want the ordinary persons to be taxed more and the corporates less on the US model. Corporates are be given subsidies and subsidies for the common people are reduced. A look in to the following proposals clearly reveals the agenda of the UPA government. 

‘Outlining its intention of cutting down the ballooning subsidy bill and bringing it under 2 per cent of GDP in 2012-13, the Government pegged the subsidy for food, fuel and fertiliser subsidies for 2012-13 at over Rs 1.79 lakh crore, nearly 14 per cent lower than the revised estimates for the current fiscal.

According to the Budget proposals, the government’s subsidy bill on food, petroleum and fertilisers is estimated at Rs 1,79,554 crore for the 2012-13 fiscal as against Rs. 2,08,503 crore in the revised estimates for this fiscal. Of this, Rs. 75,000 crore has been provided for food, Rs. 61,000 crore for fertilizer and around Rs. 40,000 crore for petroleum subsidy.

Interestingly, the revised estimate for this fiscal is higher by 55 per cent compared to the budget estimate of nearly Rs. 1,34,211 crore. The oil subsidy, which is given to state-run oil marketing firms, such as Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL and HPCL, for selling diesel, domestic LPG to households and kerosene through the PDS system, below cost, is estimated lower at Rs. 43,580 crore in 2012-13, compared to Rs. 68,481 crore in this fiscal.

The government’s food subsidy, given towards running the public distribution system is estimated to marginally rise to Rs. 75,000 crore the next fiscal from Rs. 72,823 crore in 2011-12. The fertiliser subsidy is also pegged lower at Rs. 60,974 crore, as against Rs 67,199 crore in the current fiscal. Under the fertiliser subsidy, the government would provide Rs. 13,398 crore for imported urea, Rs. 19,000 crore for indigenous (urea) fertilisers, and Rs. 28,576 crore for the sale of decontrolled fertilisers (DAP, MOP and complexes) at a subsidised rate to farmers.

The Finance Minister said he would endeavour to restrict the expenditure on Central subsidies to under two per cent of the GDP in 2012-13 and subsequently, further down to 1.75 per cent of the GDP.’

It is clear that the concern of the UPA II government is for the corporates and big business and not the common people who brought it in to power. The Congress  has seen the wrath of the people in the last assembly elections, where congress leaders lost even in the hereditary constituencies of its top most leaders  Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. But it has not learnt any  lessons from this defeat.

Oppose and defeat the anti-people measures.

Full preparations for the inauguration of the CHQ building

17 Saturday Mar 2012

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CHQ BSNLEU is making all preparations for the inauguration of the CHQ building ‘K.G.Bose Bhawan’ at New Delhi on 22nd March 2012, the 11th Foundation Anniversary of BSNLEU. Invitation cards have been sent to senior leaders, leaders of sister unions etc. and we hope that most of them will attend. The function will be at the building place itself. Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, President, CITU will inaugurate the building.

The Central Executive Committee will be held on 22nd and 23rd March at Delhi itself.

It is a joy for each and every BSNLEU worker that they have been able to have an own building with contribution from the workers themselves.

Budget – Rs. 70,000 crore through disinvestment of PSUs.

16 Friday Mar 2012

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Beware. The government is on a head-hunt of the Public Sector. The budget has proposed for PSU disinvestment to collect Rs. 70,000 crore in this financial year. The budget did not increase the corporate tax but want money to be collected by selling the property of

The Finance Minister plans to generate Rs. 30,000 crore from stake sales in PSUs, despite the fact that the targets set for 2011-12 were missed. “In 2011-12, as against a target of Rs. 40,000 crore, the government will raise about Rs. 14,000 crore from disinvestment. For 2012-13, I propose to raise Rs. 30,000 crore through disinvestment,” he said, and asserted that the government would maintain at least 51 per cent ownership and management control in the PSUs.

It means that in many PSUs, the government is proposing to disinvest up to 49%. This will be for the present. Next time it will cross the 51%,which will virtually mean that it will become a private company as it happened in the case of Maruti Udyog Limited and other PSUs.

A strong protest movement to save the property of the people being gifted to the MNCs and corporates should start immediately.

 

Regressive and Anti-people Budget – CPI(M)

16 Friday Mar 2012

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New Delhi, March 16: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The CPI(M) considers that the Union Budget 2012-2013 is a regressive budget which will result in pushing up prices and imposing greater burdens on the working people. The bias towards the corporates and the rich in this budget is seen from the fact that while the direct taxes being levied from the rich will result in a loss of 4500 crores rupees, that from indirect taxes, that is through the increase in across the board service and excise duties, is expected to yield a gain of 45,940 crores. While the CPI(M) welcomes taxes on luxury items, it strongly opposes the reliance on indirect taxes for revenue mobilization as this will lead to a cascading impact pushing up prices across the board.
The CPI(M) also opposes the cut in subsidies  fuel to as much as 25,000 crore rupees. This would inevitably lead to further hikes in fuel prices. The cut in subsidies to fertilizers by 6000 crore rupees will also lead to further price rise of fertilizers which have already imposed unbearable burdens on farmers.
The Governments concerns about cutting subsidies in the name of controlling the fiscal deficit are hypocritical to say the least. There is a huge amount of 5.3 lakh crores revenue foregone in 2011-2012, out of which over rupees fifty thousand crores were tax concessions to corporates. There has been a shortfall of Rs. 30,000 crore in gross tax revenue because vis a vis the budget estimates mainly on account of slack collection from corporates.
At the same time the budget gives a slew of concessions to investments in the stock markets. At a time when globally Governments are trying to control the volatility in stock markets by a tax regime against speculation, the budget cuts the STT (security transactions tax) by 25 per cent and a new tax exemption has been announced to encourage retail stock market investors. This has come at a time when the EPF interest rate has been slashed from 9.5% to 8.25%. The requirement for a capital gains tax to prevent speculation has again been ignored by the Government.
As far as the people are concerned, the claims of added allocations ring hollow because of the dismal record of actual expenditures. the Government may give any figure as the budget estimate but how much does it actually spend of that estimate. In the last year in most Ministries there has been a shameful shortfall in actual expenditures. Crucial programmes like MNREGA have seen a huge shortfall of over 9000 crores in the last year, the gap between the budget estimate and the revised estimate. Similarly the gender budget saw a shortfall of 1200 crores in actual expenditures. This is also an undeclared method of controlling the deficit.
Given the inflation factor the allocations for most programmes are in any case inadequate. For example the record as far as allocations for Scheduled caste Sub Component Plan and Scheduled tribe sub-plan though increased are still far below the required amount of 16.5 per cent and 8.2 per cent of the Plan expenditure and in fact is even lower last year. It is only 7 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.
This budget fails to adequately step up public expenditure to reverse the growth slow down. The sharp cuts in fuel and fertiliser subsidy and across the board hikes in indirect tax rates will also fuel inflation further.
The CPI(M) calls upon the people to oppose the Budget proposals.

Anti-worker Budget of UPA II Government

16 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in TU News - India

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The Budget presented by the UPA II government is completely anti-worker. I am giving below  a Press Statement issued by CITU in this connection:

New Delhi, March 16: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions(CITU) secretariat has issued the following statement:
The UPA II government’s utter disregard for the workers has once again come out in the open in the Union Budget. Presenting the tax proposals in his Budget speech, the Finance Minister said ‘Various players, including policy makers, politicians, agriculturists and business houses, participate in the making of the economy’. Not a word about the contribution of the workers to the national economy!
The Union Budget 2012 – 13 continued the pattern of providing concessions to the rich while imposing burdens on the poor – Rs 4500 crore relief was extended in direct taxes while a burden of Rs 45000 was imposed on the common people through indirect taxes. The increase in the service tax will lead to further price rise.
Not a paisa has been allocated for the Unorganised Sector Social Security Fund, making the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act a mockery. The Finance Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to allow FDI in retail, to the enactment of the PFRDA Act. While the public sector enterprises have a huge surplus of Rs 6 lakhs crores, the government is determined to garner Rs 30000 crores through disinvestment. He has announced income tax concession under the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme to lure people into the share market, even while announcing that expenditure on subsidies to the poor would be brought down.
While increasing the allocation for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the Finance Minster revealed the attitude of the government to exploit women workers through extraction of unpaid work. The ‘scope of activities’ of the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) under the NRHM will be increased and they would be required to play a ‘more active role’, but no regular and fixed income is ensured for them. Allocation for ICDS and Mid Day meal programmes have been increased but no provision has been made for ensuring minimum wages, pension and other social security benefits for the anganwadi employees and the mid day meal workers.
Not a single demand of the joint trade union movement raised through the 28th February strike has been addressed in this Budget. It is a clear indication of the determination of the UPA II government to pursue with the neoliberal policies despite the massive and unprecedented united countrywide strike and its dismal performance in the elections to the state assemblies that reflected the serious discontent among the people towards its policies.
CITU calls upon the workers all over the country to intensify the joint struggles in the coming days to ensure the reversal of the anti worker and anti people policies.

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Mother of Com. R.Venkatraman expired. Heartfelt condolences.

15 Thursday Mar 2012

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Mother of Com. R.Venkatraman, Wkg. President of TEPU passed away today at 2100 hours. She was 86. She was suffering from some ailments and was hospitalised  two days back.

I convey my heartfelt condolences to Com.Venkatraman, the bereaved family and friends.

 

Press Release by CITU protesting against reduction of EPF interest rate

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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CITU denounces Government’s decision to reduce EPF rate of interest for 2011-12 15.03.2012CITU strongly denounces the Government’s unilateral decision in nexus with the Employers to reduce the interest rate on Employees Provident Fund (EPF) from 9.5% to 8.25% for the year 2011-12, ignoring the unanimous demand of all central trade unions to maintain the existing rate of interest. The demand was reiterated time and again by trade union representatives in CBT meetings.

It is shocking that when during the span of last more than one year, the interest rate for banks and financial institutions has been raised several times for addressing the inflationary situation, same is being denied to more than five crore workers covered under EPF. Unlike other deposits including term-deposits and fixed – deposits in banks and financial institutions, the provident fund of workers is a social-security fund which is a longest term recurring fixed deposit and this fund remains with the government continuously for long twenty-five to thirty years. This fund deserves a much higher rate of interest than the usual fixed deposits with the banks and financial institutions.

CITU demands that the government should immediately rescind its decision and restore the existing rate of interest of EPF for the year 2011-12.

CITU calls upon all its affiliated unions to organize massive protest demonstrations before RPFC offices against this anti-worker decision of the government.

-:-

Com.K.G.Bose – Revolutionary Leader

15 Thursday Mar 2012

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Com. K.G.Bose – the Revolutionary Leader

The BSNL Workers are celebrating BSNL Employees Union Foundation Day on 22nd March 2012, with inauguration of its own Union Building at New Delhi. The date is also important as the 35th death anniversary of the veteran working class leader Com.A.K.Gopalan, freedom fighter, PB Member of CPI(M)  and Opposition Leader in the first Lok Sabha.

The building is being named as ‘K.G.Bose Bhawan’ in memory of our beloved leader, guide and visionary who charted the future course for the P&T movement in the country. It will only be appropriate at this moment to remember and pay homage to him.

Family Background

Krishna Gopal Basu was born 7th July 1921 to Shri Jaya Gopal Basu and Smt. Nivanani Basu.  Shri Jaya Gopal Basu was a teacher.  A native of Helutala village (after partition in Bangladesh), the family shifted to Calcutta and constructed a small house at Beliaghata, where  K.G.Bose was born. Late Moni Basu (Moni Bose) was KG’s younger brother. Their father and elder brothers died early and it became the responsibility of Krishna Gopal Basu to look after his sisters and younger brother.  The brothers managed their studies with some help from the Ramakrishna Mission.  He managed to get work in a private company, ‘Orient Fan’, as an apprentice. During the period, he studied privately and graduated. Later in 1941, he got appointment as a clerk in the office of the Divisional Engineer, Telegraphs, Calcutta, at a salary of Rs. 45 after passing a competitive examination. This was a great relief to the struggling family.

Even after getting a job, KG continued his studies in the college and was active in the student movement as also Marxist Study Group.

P&T Trade Union Movement

At that time, the Posts and Telegraphs were part of the same department. Telephone service has been introduced in the big cities a few years back and were growing fast and was part of the Telegraphs. The trade union movement in P & T was divided and there were three main all India organisations viz. Indian Telegraph Union, The Postmen & Lower Grade Staff Union and All India Postal & RMS Union. In addition, more than one dozen other unions existed. From the day one, Krishna Gopal Basu, with his background in the students’ movement and union activities in the Orient Fan, became an active worker in the Indian Telegraph Union. He became its Branch Secretary in no time. In 1945, Com. Moni Bose, his younger brother, also joined the Department in the very same office.

1946 All India Postal Strike

The All India Postmen & Lower Grade Staff Union declared an indefinite strike from 11th July 1946 on a 16 point Charter of Demands. It was a period when the entire country was fighting against the British rule and many struggles were being organised as part of the Independence movement. The government immediately declared the postal strike as illegal. The reformist leadership of the Federation of P&T Employees issued a statement opposing the strike. The Indian Telegraph Union also disassociated from the strike. But this could not deter the strike action. In Bengal, under the leadership of Com.Bhupendra Nath Ghosh, who later became the Secretary General of NFPTE, full support was given to the strike. Com. K.G.Bose took a leading role in organising the same.

The strike spread like wild fire all over India. In the major cities like Madras, Bombay and Calcutta, massive processions with full support of the trade unions were organised. The hartal and bandh organised in Calcutta in support of the strike on 29th July 1946, was one of the biggest Calcutta has ever seen till that time. Com. KG took a very important role in organising the same.

The Congress and the All India Trade Union Congress, which was the only national trade union at that time, gave full support to the strike. The British government had to come down to negotiate and 12 out of the 16 demands were conceded and the strike ended on 6th August after 26 days on a successful note. Government also declared “Good Conduct Pay” to the P&T employees. The strike resulted in a new thinking on the part of workers and leaders on the necessity of having a united organisation in P&T. The leaders who opposed the strike got isolated from the workers.

The Formation of UPTW

The discussion between the leaders and the urge of the workers for a united movement heralded in new developments. The major three unions, Indian Telegraph Association, Indian Postal Union and the All India Postal & RMS Union were merged and the Union of P&T Workers (UPTW) formed in the Akola Conference in 1946.  Com. Om Prakash Gupta, the young office secretary of the Union and who was with the progressive section at that time, was elected as the first General Secretary of the UPTW.

The growth of UPTW was phenomenal. Under the militant leadership of Comrades B.N.Ghosh, Om Prakash Gupta, K.G.Bose, V.S.Menon and other young cadres all over the country, within a short time, UPTW grew all over India and the membership reached to more than two and half lakh, which no other union could reach so far in the P&T. It maintained regular contact with All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), which was the only central trade union at that time. India got independence in 1947. There were many urgent issues and the workers wanted early settlement. The UPTW decided to organise agitational programmes and called for the Supreme Council to be held at Madras for taking the strike decision.  While the national leaders of Congress supported the Postal Strike of 1946 when the struggle against British rule was on, they took a complete U turn after India got independence and wanted to crush the P&T strike which was being organised in 1949. All the top leaders including B.N.Ghosh, O.P.Gupta and others were arrested even before the Supreme Council could meet. KG was arrested along with other comrades in Calcutta.

Dismissal from Service

Along with many other comrades, Com.K.G.Bose was suspended from service in connection with the 1949 strike. Many young comrades including Moni Bose, Janak Gupta (wife of O.P.Gupta and who was also the Secretary of the union at Delhi) were terminated from service. There was severe victimisation which continued for a long period. It was a very trying period, with the government continuing victimisation with revenge.

Com.K.G. was never taken back in service. He was finally dismissed in 1961, through a farce of inquiry proceedings. Com. Moni Bose and Janak Gupta and some others terminated leaders were not reinstated. All of them became full time workers of the Union.

The old anti-progressive section in the leadership utilised the opportunity and tried to change the militant leadership of the UPTW, but they failed. Com. O.P.Gupta was re-elected as General Secretary, but was arrested and kept in custody. Com.K.G. was arrested several times during the period and for some times he went underground to avoid arrest.

 Formation of NFPTE

In the fluid situation, the necessity of a united union, including those still outside of UPTW, was acutely felt. Minister of Communications, shri Jagjivan Ram, took initiative in bringing a united organisation, which was the aspiration of the workers also. Despite several difficulties, the new organisation, National Federation of P&T Employees (NFPTE), was formed on 24th November 1954. It was a red day in the history of the P&T Trade Union movement in the country, which inspired the entire P&T and Central government employees. Comrade Bhupendra Nath Ghosh (B.N.Ghosh) was elected as the first Secretary General of NFPTE in the Federal Council held at New Delhi. The Federation consisted of 9 All India Unions, representing the class III and Class IV unions in the four arms of Postal, RMS, Telegraph, Telephones and one combined union for the Class III and Class IV employees in the P&T Circle Offices.  Com.KG, who had made maximum efforts for the reorganisation was elected as the Circle Secretary of the Postal Class III Union, Telegraph  Engineering Class III Union and Telegraph Engineering, Line staff & Class IV Union of Bengal Circle.

NFPTE marches ahead

The formation of NFPTE had a great impact on the Central Government employees in the country. Within a few years the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers, the umbrella organisation, was formed at the initiative of NFPTE. Except the unions in Railway and Defence, almost all other unions, including NFPTE, was part of this new organisation. The strike call by the NFPTE in 1957 demanding appointment of a Central Pay Commission had a positive result. The government was compelled to appoint the same.

The 5 days Glorious Strike of 1960

The workers were completely dissatisfied with the recommendations of the II Central Pay Commission, which did not recommend the minimum wage as demanded by the unions. A call for indefinite strike was given by the Confederation of Central Government Employees and workers, Defence and Railways Federations. The Central Government for the first time in Independent India promulgated the Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance (ESMO), arrested, jailed, dismissed, suspended and terminated employees in thousands. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru termed the strike as ‘Civil Rebellion’ and used all measures to suppress it. Severe victimisation and harassment of the workers took place.  Terror was let loose on the workers.  After 5 days of glorious strike, the strike was withdrawn by the All India leaders, who were all in jail. The strike was a bitter experience to the workers who saw the real face of the government to the genuine demands of its employees. It took more than 3 years to end the victimisation. Com. AKG and other left MPs in the Parliament severely criticised the government for its brutal attack on the striking workers and demanded to vacate all victimisation.

Elected as All India President of Postal Union

Com. K.G.Bose, who was functioning as the Circle Secretary of Postal Class III Union was elected as the All India President of the Union in the Ludhiana Conference in 1963. Accordingly his activities were extended to the all India level in a big way.

My first meeting with Comrade KG

It was at the All India Conference of the AITE Union Class III at Thiruvananthapuram in 1963, that I first met Com.KG.  I was the Branch Secretary of the Union at Cannanore ( Kannur) and was a delegate to the AIC. About 10 comrades, including me, were issued with Rule 14 charge sheets at that time, proposing major penalty, including dismissal, for participating in a so called ‘wild-cat’ local strike demanding certain facilities to the staff. I had discussion with the Divisional Engineer, Calicut for withdrawal of the charge sheet, but he was furious that a strike has taken place in his division and wanted the union and employees to be taught a hard lesson.

During the Conference I met Com. O.P.Gupta, General Secretary, and asked him to take up the matter with the top level officers, who will be attending the AIC. His comment was that “who asked you to go on strike?” and refused to intervene.  I had seen Com.K.G.Bose earlier, but had not talked with him. I went to him and told him about the victimisation. In the Open Session, where the Member (Operation) P&T was also present, Com.KG in his speech severely criticised the disciplinary action taken by the Divisional Engineer, instead of settling the genuine grievance of the workers and asked the Member to see that the punitive actions are withdrawn.  It was a big relief and a pleasant surprise to me and all our comrades, when Member, P&T, during his speech, assured Com.Bose and the house that no disciplinary action will be taken in the case mentioned by the latter. Accordingly, the charge sheets were dropped after a few days.  I have mentioned this incident to illustrate that how he dealt with each and every problem of the workers.

Afterwards, I had the occasion to meet him in the All India Conferences and also in some meetings at Delhi. More than once, he came to Calicut and attended meetings on our invitation. A few letters sent by him, I have kept as a treasure. The union building at Calicut, dedicated to him, “K.G.Bose Mandiram”, was inaugurated by Com. Parul Bose, wife of Com. K.G. in the 1980s. Com.Parul Bose, a teacher and union leader, was stabbed by goondas in the 1970s, when there were gruesome attacks on the communists and Left.

Formation of 12 July Committee

One of the important contributions of Com.KG was the formation of the 12 July Committee of Bengal, which consists of the organisations of the Central Government, State government, public sector and local self government employees, primary and secondary teachers etc. The Committee was formed in 1966 and the KG was elected as the first Joint Convener of the same.  He was much interested in such joint functioning as it was the necessity of the times to fight against the attack on the working class, which was in existence in Bengal at that time.

One Day Token Strike of 19th September 1968.

The government’s refusal to concede the need based minimum wage to the central government employees resulted in another strike, this time a token strike for one day on 19th September 1968. Com. KG toured throughout India in preparation for the strike. There was massive participation of Central government employees. The central government once again made use of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and victimised the workers in thousands through arrest, suspension, dismissal, termination etc. The progressive section under the leadership of Coms. KG Bose, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and others wanted to fight the victimisation, but O.P.Gupta, wanted to wait for the leniency from the government instead of sustained agitation. In circles like Keral, Bengal etc., work- to- rule and other agitations continued till the victimisation was vacated.

KG elected as President of NFPTE

The difference was not in connection with the strike alone. Com.O.P.Gupta – D.Gnaniah leadership, who were part of the progressive section earlier, started taking a reformist and anti-struggle position. They torpedoed the democratic functioning of the organisation itself. Instead of fighting with the government to protect the rights of the workers, they wanted to limit everything at the level of discussion and agreement, even if it is not in the best interests of the workers.

The resentment against the NFPTE leadership increased and in the next Federal Council meeting in 1970, a stiff contest took place. Coms. K.G.Bose and A.S.Rajan were elected as President and Secretary General of NFPTE defeating the O.P.Gupta – D.Gnaniah group. For the first time in the history of NFPTE, a worker president was elected. Till that time all the Presidents of NFPTE were outsiders, mainly leaders of AITUC etc. This time, a dismissed P&T worker was elected as President and the workers were jubilant.

Disruption of NFPTE, Confederation

But the reformist leaders were only waiting for a chance. In the next Federal Council meeting at Calcutta in 1971, they floated a parallel list of office-bearers well knowing that they cannot win in election. The then Communications Minister Shri H.N.Bahuguna recognised the fake list, thus toppling the democratic traditions of NFTE and unwarranted interference in the democratically elected leadership. This resulted in horizontal division of the Confederation as also NFPTE for some period. While the Confederation and NFPTE under the leadership of Coms. S.K.Vyas, KG Bose, NJ Iyer, K.Adinarayana etc. went on strike along with Railway workers in 1974 demanding Bonus, the reformist leaders with OPG and Co. at the top opposed the strike and even joined the government to victimise the striking workers. Though the Railway workers continued the strike for 22 days, the CG employees were compelled to call off the strike after 3 days. But the fight against the victimisation continued for years.

KG as MLA and Pay Commission Member

In the last period of the 1960s, Com.K.G.Bose was elected as an MLA in W.Bengal assembly. He was also nominated as a member of the Pay Commission for the state government employees.  Both responsibilities, he fulfilled with credit.

KG falls ill

The continued tours all over India exposing the reformists and organising the union as also the hectic activities of the 12 July Committee and responsibilities as an MLA and Pay Commission Member had a disastrous effect on his health. On a check up, it was found that the dreaded cancer has caught with him. But, he continued his work without any break.

It was during this period that Com.KG visited Calicut to attend a largely attended Convention. It was in 1974. He reached Calicut by train at about 0800 hours in the morning. Hundreds of workers under the leadership of Workers Centre, a co-ordination Committee of Central, State, public sector employees and teachers welcomed him and took him in a procession to the Town Hall where the Convention was held. His address in the Convention was inspiring. We had arranged a Press Conference later, but he felt tired and did not attend the same. The press reporters came and met him in the room where he was resting. The next day he was taken to Mangalore, again in train, where also, he addressed a well attended meeting. From there he returned to Calcutta. But we never knew, nor did he tell us that he was suffering from cancer. When we knew later that he was suffering from cancer at that time, we were pained much to remember that we made him walk about one km distance in procession in the morning sun and compelled  him to attend so many functions.  After a few months, he was sent to London for treatment.

Treatment at London

He was given expert treatment at London, but the disease had already reached a situation beyond treatment.

During his treatment at London he used to write letters and guided the struggle against reformists and for the demands of the workers. To the extreme sorrow of all who knew him and worked with him, Com.K.G. passed away at the London Hospital on the 11th December 1974. A revolutionary life has ended. He left behind him his wife, Com.Parul Bose, a trade union worker herself, who shared with KG all the difficulties and pleasant moments of life, and his son, Dipankar Bose and the Bose family.

Com.Moni Bose, his younger brother, as all of us know, was always with KG, and after his death took a very leading position in the movement. In 1991 Bhopal All India Conference of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III, in a very tight election fight with the reformist leaders, defeated and replaced O.P.Gupta as General Secretary, where I was elected as the President of the Union. He was fully engaged with the union activities till he breathed his last on 19th May 2010 after a severe heart attack.  His wife, Jyotsna Didi and the entire family are part of the telecom family.

KG Bose Bhawan

On this occasion when BSNLEU is having a new building dedicated to him and named “K.G.Bose Bhawan”, I once again remember the revolutionary leader, his guidance and leadership and the way he became the shining star of a whole generation of young comrades like me.

Red Salute to Com. K.G.Bose, the Revolutionary Leader!

…….

“ I want to survive and continue my uncompromising fight against all injustices and in this struggle I am not alone, thousands and thousands of comrades are with me and they are the source of my inspiration” …”We cannot be a party to any proposal which may be considered as surrender of the principled stand by the common workers.”

  (  K.G.’s letter from London Hospital)

V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU