Intuc seeks poll representation
Sanjay Jog
MUMBAI, January 20: The Indian National Trade Union Congress (Intuc) has made a strong demand seeking representation in the seat distribution for the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. Intuc's stand is in direct contrast to the state Congress leadership, which is trying to keep the trade union out of the seat allotment process.Intuc, which has a solid presence in the state, has appealed to the Congress high command and Sonia Gandhi seeking nomination for its candidates in south central Mumbai -- Sachin Ahir, north west Mumbai -- Nirmala Samant-Prabhavalkar, Khed (Pune district) -- Neelam Gorhe and SQ Zama -- Nagpur parliamentary constituencies. While Ahir is a general secretary of Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh, Samant Prabhavalkar is in charge of Intuc's legal cell, former city mayor Gorhe leads the women's wing of Intuc and Zama has been an Intuc activist since a long time. This demand was made at a hurriedly called Intuc executive meeting which authorised its president and the Rajya Sabha member
Govindrao Adik to hold necessary talks with the state and central leadership and Sonia Gandhi. Adik, who will lead a high-level delegation, will leave for New Delhi tomorrow. With Intuc's resolve to get representation, the state Congress leadership will have to tackle the issue with more skills as its efforts to enter into an electoral adjustment with like minded parties on the SS-BJP alliance have not come off. Ironically, the secular parties comprising Janata Dal, CPI, CPM and Samajwadi Party have already declared their resolve to contest in 30 constituencies. Adik, while talking to The Financial Express on Tuesday, stressed the need for giving representation in the seat distribution on the grounds that "Intuc has a membership of seven lakh in organised sector and it has five lakh members in unorganised sector with functioning of 350 affiliated units all over the state." He said that the Congress party cannot afford to neglect this strength. "It is ironical that though Intuc has been whole
heartedly working for the cause of the Congress party over the years, it has been never given representation during seat distribution," Adik said, adding that it was high time that it should be given a chance in power-sharing during the ensuing elections. Adik said that Intuc members were of the view that their issues were not raised properly over the years by the Congress nominees in the parliament despite proper briefings. "Thus there was a strong feeling among the members that they should be given a chance to take up workers' cause in the Lok Sabha," he added. Adik criticised the alliance government for its "anti-worker" policies. "The SS-BJP government's decision to abolish Bombay Industrial Relations Act is an example to show its apathy towards the workers," he opined. Moreover, Adik put an onus on the state government for the plight of city textile mill workers and alleged that it was least bothered to solve their problems. He also assailed the state's move to turn down the centre's offer to takeover mills run by the NTC in Maharashtra. Additionally, Adik said Intuc would take up issues like, hike in dearness allowance, limit for bonus and gratuity with the centre.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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