All India Conference of E.III Union at Thiruvananthapuram 09-13 April 1994.
The recognition of Moni Bose as General Secretary sent a clear message. OPG very well knew that once regular functioning started, there will be a big erosion from his side.
Hence, M.B.Vichare, filed a case in Delhi High Court against recognition of Moni Bose as General Secretary. He also issued notice for holding the All India Conference at Trichy, claiming himself as General Secretary. Moni Bose impleaded in the case. The Delhi High Court directed that V.A.N.Namboodiri and Moni Bose as President and General Secretary are the authorized office-bearers to conduct the All India Conference thus rejecting the claim of the disruptors outright.
Moni Bose, General Secretary, addressed letters to OPG & Co. for restoring unity and also to participate in the AIC at Thiruvananthapuram. He also requested to hand over the accounts along with the union funds coming to about Rs. 50 lakhs which was not handed over to the new General Secretary after his defeat at Bhopal AIC. The funds were never made over.
Again disruption by OPG
Failing in their effort to stop holding of All India Conference by Moni Bose, General Secretary, through DOT and Courts, OPG & Co. made plans to disrupt the Conference at Thiruvananthapuram. OPG wrote to the then Congress Chief Minister of Kerala, K.Karunakaran, to depute police force to ‘ensure safety to delegates’. Statements were issued denigrating the E.III leadership. They also mobilized goonda elements to create trouble in the session.
The Reception Committee with Com. Suseela Gopalan, M.P. as Chairperson and Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, Circle Secretary, E.III Union Kerala Circle as General Convener and Com. G.Sasidharan Achari, Circle Treasurer, as Treasurer with leaders of various unions/associations as members made all arrangements for the successful conduct of the Conference.
The Inaugural Session
The Inaugural Session was to start by 10.00 AM on 9th April 1994. The hall and premises were fully packed. Com. E.M.S.Namboodiripad, veteran Communist leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala was to inaugurate the AIC. Before starting the session, disruptors viz. OPG group, with a well prepared plan started shouting and demanding discussion on the CWC held on the earlier day, before the session starts. They were told that everything can be discussed in the AIC. But instead of accepting the proposal, they started making pandemonium by breaking window panes, throwing and breaking the arranged chairs etc. The Reception Committee members who requested them not to damage furniture etc. were attacked and manhandled. After making the trouble for some time, they left the hall and walked out. This was very unfortunate and not expected from responsible delegates.
After some time, the AIC started. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President presided. Com.E.M.S.Namboodiripad inaugurated the Conference. He spoke about the necessity of the intellectual and manual workers to come together for struggle to save the services and to march forward to progress.
Comrades E.Balanandan, M.P., President, CITU, M.K.Pandhe, General Secretary, CITU, Suseela Gopalan, M.P., Shri O.N.V.Kurup, well known Poet, Com. K. Adinarayana, Secretary General, NFPE, Com. O.P.Gupta, Secretary General, NFTE, Coms. Moni Bose, P.S.Raman Kutty, General secretary, T.III Union, Pabitra Chakraborty, General Secretary, Administrative Union, P.V.Chandrasekharan and many other leaders addressed the various sessions of the Conference.
A massive procession participated by thousands of telecom employees went through the streets of Thiruvananthapuram which was greeted on the way by various organizations of Central Govt. Employees, Postal, State Government employees, PSUs, students, CITU etc. it was a new experience for many delegates from other parts of the country.
The All India Conference adopted the report presented by the General Secretary. It discussed about the various issues and the organizational problems. The Conference passed a ‘Resolution on Policy and Programme’ giving a direction to the march ahead. It strongly opposed the government proposals for corporatization and privatization. A Charter of Demands including short and long term demands were adopted by the house.
Office-Bearers
The AIC unanimously elected the following Office-Bearers:
President : Com. Moni Bose
Vice-Presidents : Com.K.D.M.Tripathi (UP)
: Com. A.C.Shah (Gujarat)
: Com. Sakunthala Gond (Bihar)
: Com. Gurcharan Singh (Punjab)
: Com. P.R.Das (Orissa)
General Secretary : Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri
Asst. General Secretaries : Com. Debashish Dutta Gupta (Calcutta)
: Com. P.Abhimanyu (T.Nadu)
: Com. P.Asokababu (A.P.)
: Com. P.Appaji (Karnataka)
Treasurer : Com. K.M.Pillai (Delhi)
Asst. Treasurer : Com. G.J.Sheikh (M.P.)
The Thiruvananthapuram AIC was a milestone in the forward march of the E.III Union. It took important decisions as also prepared for the defence of the telecom sector, which was being attacked under the neo-liberalisation policy of the government. It also gave a befitting reply to OPG andCo. who wanted to disrupt the telecom movement. (To be continued)
