Mangaluru: Unions slam Modi govt over ‘anti-labour’ policies

[email protected] (CD Network | Photos by Suresh)
September 2, 2015

Mangaluru, Sep 2: Dozens of labourers and activists took part in a protest meet held in the heart of the city of Mangaluru on Wednesday amidst dawn-to- dust Bharat Bandh called by central trade unions against the alleged anti-labour policies of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.

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Addressing the protesters who had converged in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Sadashiva Shetty, Karnataka State Secretary, INTUC termed the proposed changes in labour laws a threat to the security of the working class in the country.

"There has never been a two-pronged attack on the industrial work force as well as on agricultural workers at the same time like it is happening now," he said while raising issues of price rise, employment generation, labour law violations and contractual workers.

CITU leader Vasanth Achary alleged that the Union government is adopting anti-labour policies by making Provident Fund and ESI optional and investing 5-10 per cent of the PF amount of the labourers in the share market.

The Union government has already taken a decision to invest Rs.6,000 crore of the labourers’ money in the share market and has started the process, he alleged.

He said instead of making ESI mandatory, the government is encouraging the labourers to take insurance policies from private companies only for the benefit of private companies and not the labourers.

He demanded that the Union government withdraw the land acquisition ordinance and implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan panel report to help the farmers so that they get scientific price for their agricultural produce.

The so called reform measures of the Modi government will see almost "67% of the enterprises outside the orbit of labour laws," pointed out another protester.

While the land bill is going to affect agricultural workers, the labour law amendments that the government is working on will hit the industrial workers, he lamented.

Also Read: Mangaluru, Udupi join ‘Bharat Bandh’: buses go off road; vehicles stoned

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Why the strike

  • Trade Unions are protesting against Government for making changes in labour laws
  • Reportedly, the trade unions are unhappy over the anti-worker economic policies of the BJP Government

Who all are participating in the Bandh

  • Initially strike was called by 11 trade unions including Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh(BMS). But RSS led Mazdoor Sangh backed out later saying that it wants to give government some time to ponder over its decision.
  • BMS also appealed others to reconsider their decision of Bharat Bandh and give government some time to stand up on our expectations.
  • Rejecting Government, BMS appeal, 10 unions are participating in the all India strike.
  • These are CITU, INTUC, AITUC, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC and LPF.
  • All-India Bank Employees' Association and coal unions may join 10 trade unions in their protest.

What are unions' demands?

  • Trade unions decided to go ahead with the strike after their talks with a group of senior ministers last week failed.
  • It is being said that Unions are against the labour reforms made by the Centre. Government led Committee had recently proposed to significantly increase minimum wages and make them mandatory across the country.
  • Unions have total 12-points charter of demands, including withdrawal of the proposed changes in the labour laws and stopping the disinvestment and privatisation of PSUs.
  • Reportedly, the Unions demand an increase in the bonus ceiling as well as widening the coverage of health insurance and provident fund.
  • The health insurance and provident fund should include construction as well as workers in schemes such as aanganwadis.

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News Network
March 17,2024

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Bengaluru: The Vokkaliga heartland of the old Mysuru region consisting of several southern districts will be the testing ground for the recently forged BJP-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha polls.

The ruling Congress will now look to consolidate its gains that it made in the assembly elections in May last year when it made inroads into the strongholds of the regional party headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in these districts.

In the 2019 Pariamentary elections, the Congress and JD(S) fought together but secured only one seat each in the state. The BJP bagged 25 out of the total 28 Lok Sabha seats.

The Congress and JD(S) win, in fact, came in the old Mysuru region -- Bangalore Rural and Hassan, respectively, while Mandya seat went to an independent backed by the BJP.

This time, the JD(S) has an alliance with BJP. According to sources, the JD(S) is likely to be alloted Hassan, Mandya and Kolar seats in the region, from where Deve Gowda's party draws its strength from in Karnataka.

The JD(S) is now looking to bounce back after the drubbing it received in the May assembly polls.

The Congress and JD(S) are considered to be traditional rivals in the region, where the BJP has also been improving its vote-share.

The BJP-JD(S) alliance hopes to counter the Congress' surge in the region, determined to consolidate Vokkaliga votes in their favour and banking on the Modi charisma. Both parties also hope to gain from each other with this alliance.

The Congress is hoping to further its prospects and continue its dominance in the region, with the help of its strong local leadership and riding on its five guarantee schemes.

Both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress state President D K Shivakumar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister come from this region, and so does JD(S) patriarch Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy, a former CM and that party's state President.

According to a political analyst, 'coordination among local leaders and transfer of votes between the parties are going to be key for the BJP-JD(S) alliance to click.' Lack of trust between sizeable workers and leaders of both parties on the ground had proved to be counterproductive for Congress and JD(S) combine in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, resulting in their rout and helping the BJP.

Both Congress and BJP have announced candidates for some seats in the region for the 2024 polls.

The Congress has re-nominated D K Suresh, brother of Shivakumar, from Bangalore Rural.

Interestingly, the BJP has fielded the scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore and noted cardiac surgeon and Deve Gowda's son-in-law, Dr C N Manjunath, from Bangalore Rural.

In Karnataka, the Lok Sabha elections will be held in two phases on April 26 and May 7.

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News Network
March 28,2024

Mangaluru, Mar 28: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP has warned the individuals and political parties against the poll code violations during private events. 
 
“Private events such as marriages, birthdays, housewarming ceremonies, and other non-political programmes do not require any permission. However, one should ensure that there is no violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) at these functions. Permission is needed if the events are attended by politicians or candidates,” the DC said. 

He said that these gatherings will be under the surveillance of MCC teams, as there are chances of luring voters by campaigning and supplying food, said the DC. The district has 38,386 new voters, of which, 19,619 are men.

He said that the notification of election in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency will be issued soon, and the filing of nominations will be held between 11 am and 3 pm till April 4. 

Only five persons, including the candidate, will be allowed to enter the returning officer’s chamber to submit the nominations. A facilitation centre will be opened at the DC’s office. 

The expenditure of the candidate will be counted from the day the candidate files the nomination.

The DC said that the district is not an expenditure-sensitive constituency. Assistant expenditure observers and expenditure observers will monitor the expenditure of the candidates. An expenditure book will be provided to the candidate to record expenditure incurred, he explained.

Further, he said that no election materials can be printed without the name and address of the publishers, and the number of copies printed. Separate permission should be availed for procession prior to the submission of nomination papers from the ARO office, through the single-window system.

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News Network
March 19,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 19: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that the Congress will split in three months after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and its impact will be visible on the Siddaramaiah-led state government.

"Due to internal squabbles, the state government will not last long," the BJP leader said.

Talking to reporters on Monday, he said the sitting MP from the Gadag-Haveri constituency, Shivakumar Udasi, has done a lot of development work and implemented the Central government's schemes effectively.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will surely become the PM for the third time. The overall response has been good in the Gadag-Haveri Lok Sabha constituency," the former Karnataka chief minister said.

Asked if he was contesting the election in a half-hearted manner in the Gadag-Haveri seat, Bommai said "such a question does not arise when the party's high command gives instructions".

He said he would respect his opponent and not take anyone lightly. 

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