Modi govt is 'pro-corporate', says J&K's CITU

Srinagar, Aug 26: Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government of being "pro-corporate", Jammu and Kashmir chapter of Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) today asked working class to join the one-day nation-wide strike next month to protest against government's unilateral labour reforms.

"All sections of working class and employees are appealed to observe complete strike called by trade unions on September 2 in protest against the anti-people policies of the central government," State CITU president and senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami told reportrs here.

Criticising the policies of the centre, he alleged that the Modi government was in a hurry to settle his debt of the corporate friends who supported his election campaign through finances.

"The corporates are being benefitted by tax exemptions of Rs 4 to 5 lakh crores as 'revenue foregone' year after year in addition to another Rs 4 to 5 lakh crores uncollected tax claims every year.

"For whom the government in Delhi works, requires no rocket science to understand," Tarigami said claiming that "no initiative has been taken so far to provide social security benefits to unorganised work force".

He said the frequent amendments to labour laws have so far armed the employers further and this continuing process of fiddling with the rights of workers have deprived the working class who need coordinated efforts and a united resistance to safeguard thheir interests.

"The policies of globalization pursued by the Modi government are drastically affecting the work force especially working in the unorganized sector across the country virtually reducing them to the status of bonded labour," he said.

On May 26, eleven central trade unions, including BJP-backed BMS, had called for a one-day nation-wide general strike on September 2 to protest against government's unilateral labour reforms.

PTI