Left parties not to accept workers' slavery : Bhattacharjee

Kolkata, May 1(UNI) Criticising the Congress-led UPA Government for the SEZ Act and ''anti-labour'' policies, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said the Left parties would not accept ''slavery'' of workers.

''The Left parties have extended support to the UPA Government.

But we shall oppose any anti-labour legislation...we shall not accept slavery of workers,'' he said while addressing a May day function, organised by the state government.

Observing that a ''craze'' had been whipped up over setting up of Special Economic Zones, Mr Bhattacharjee said the existing act denied workers all their rights, recognised in the country's labour act, while assuring tax exemption for entrepreneurs.

''The Left Front government is for workers. It wants capital the way it wants dignity of workers protected,'' he said.

The Chief Minister said it was because of the wrong policies of the Congress-led Government, toeing the US model of globalisation, that poor had become poorer, agriculture crumbled and farmers were committing suicide.

''The Congress has taken the country in a wrong path. The Government it leads should not partner with the US and rather it should make an axis with China and Russia. I urge it to do some self-criticism,'' he said.

Stressing that the process of industrialisation in West Bengal was irreversible, Bhattacharjee said the move would be sustained taking care of agriculture.

''There has been some misunderstanding among some people over industrialisation. But there is no other alternative for the state's progress. It is a crucial test for us and we have to succeed,'' he said.

Admitting that 13 tea gardens in Jalpaiguri district still remained closed, the Chief Minister said he had asked the Labour Minister to convene a meeting to find way to solve the problem.''We are also trying utmost to resolve the standoff between the owners and workers in Hind Motor's Uttarpara factory,'' he said.

UNI