Demand for unionization: Tata Nano workers detained off Ahmedabad as they protest suspension of colleagues

By Our Representative
Nearly 350 skilled workers of the Tata Nano factory, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought to Gujarat from West Bengal about eight years ago, were detained by the police at the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) Gate No 2 in Sanand, a new industrial hub 12 km from Ahmedabad.
The workers were protesting against the alleged refusal of the state government to take back 28 of their colleagues, as they had raised their voice for recognizing their newly-formed union, Bhartiya Kamdar Ekta Sangh (BKES), said Ashim Roy, a well-known Gujarat based trade union leader guiding the Nano workers’ strike, which has been continuing for the last about three weeks.
The GIDC Gate No 2 is the main entry point towards the Tata Nano factory, which has become famous for producing India’s smallest car. Ever since the skilled workers, nearly 450 of them, are on strike, the production of the car is said to be on a standstill. "The BKES was recognised this weekend, by the state government, but these workers remain suspended", Roy said.
Among others who were detained along with the protesters included Lalji Desai, a farmers’ leader who recently joined the Congress, Khedut Samaj Gujarat leader Sagar Rabari, and Ashim Roy. “In all, 500 plus workers and activists were detained, because we decided to defy the state government refusal to give permission to BKES to protest”, Roy said.

This was the second detention of the Tata Nano workers in a week's time for their protest against refusal to get the suspension of their colleagues cancelled. On March 14, they were detained in front of the Ahmedabad district collector's office.
Before the detention, the meeting was addressed by Lalji Desai and Sagar Rabari, who were also the main leaders of the farmers’ movement against Mandal Bahucharaji Special Investment Region (SIR) in Central Gujarat, and Ashim Roy.
They demanded revocation of "punitive suspension" of 28 of the Tata Nano company’s skilled workmen in retaliation of seeking registration for their new union. They condemned the government for acting on behest of the company in suppressing the labour moment.
The strikes of Tata Nano workers, which began on February 22, 2016, is prolonging despite several round of talks with the representatives of the Tata Nano management. “The company has been evading to discuss the core proposals suggested by the labour department and instead has been demanding authorization of the representatives”, Roy said.
Meanwhile, Lalji Desai and Sagar Rabari declared their decision to mobilize rural area farmers in the region in support of the Tata Nano workers if they are not allowed to resume work within a week.
Roy said, “It is shameful that the administration is denying dharna of 50 workers on ground lack of police force allocated for other urgent work. However, it able to mobilise massive police force to control and detain 400 people to protect the Tata Nano company. The police mobilised SRP in buses provided by the company.”
“In view of this repressive atmosphere created by the police, in all 22 organisation, including national trade unions decided to intensify the agitation. More and more unions are joining the Solidarity campaign of Tata Nano workers”, he added.

Comments

'Enough evidence' in Indian tradition to support legal basis for same-sex marriage

By Iyce Malhotra, Joseph Mathai, Sandeep Chachra* The ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage provides space for much-needed conversations on issues that have hitherto remained “invisible” or engaged with patriarchal locker room humour. We must recognize that people with diverse sexualities and complex gender identities have faced discrimination, stigma and decades of oppression. Their issues have mainly remained buried in dominant social discourse, and many view them with deep insecurities.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Victim of communal violence, Christians in Manipur want Church leadership to speak up

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* The first eleven days of May 2023 have, in many ways, been a defining period of Indian history! Plenty has happened in a rapid-fire stream of events. Ironically, each one of them are indicators of how crimes and the criminalisation of society has become the ‘new norm’; these include, the May Day rallies with a focus on the four labour codes which are patently against the rights of workers; the U S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report on 1 May stating that conditions for religious freedom in India “continued to worsen in 2022”; the continued protest by the Indian women wrestlers at Jantar Mantar for the expulsion of the chief of the Indian Wrestlers Federation on very serious allegations; the Elections in Karnataka on 10 May (with communalism and corruption as the mainstay); the release of the fake, derogative and insensitive film ‘The Kerala Story’; the release of World Free Press Index on 3 May which places India

Delhi HC rules in favour of retired Air Force officer 'overcharged' for Covid treatment

By Rosamma Thomas* In a decision of May 22, 2023, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of petitioner Group Captain Suresh Khanna who was under treatment at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, between April 28 and May 5, 2021, for a period of eight days, for Covid-19 pneumonia. The petitioner had to pay Rs 3,55,286 as treatment costs, but the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) only reimbursed him for Rs 1,83,748, on the basis of government-approved rates.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Unlike other revolutionaries, Hindutva icon wrote 5 mercy petitions to British masters

By Shamsul Islam* The Hindutva icon VD Savarkar of the RSS-BJP rulers of India submitted not one, two,or three but five mercy petitions to the British masters! Savarkarites argue: “There are no evidences to prove that Savarkar collaborated with the British for his release from jail. In fact, his appeal for release was a ruse. He was well aware of the political developments outside and wanted to be part of it. So he kept requesting for his release. But the British authorities did not trust him a bit” (YD Phadke, ‘A complex Hero’, "The Indian Expres"s, August 31, 2004)

India joining US sponsored trade pillar to hurt Indian farmers, 'promote' GM seeds, food

Counterview Desk As many as 32 civil society organisations (CSOs), in a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and India joining the trade pillar, have said that its provisions will allow the US to ensure a more favourable regulatory regime “for enhancing its exports of genetically modified (GM) seeds and GM food”, underlining, it will “significantly hurt the livelihoods of Indian farmers.”

Polygamy in India "down" in 45 yrs: Muslims' from 5.7 to 2.55%, Hindus' 5.8 to 1.77%, "common" in SCs, STs

By Rajiv Shah Amidst All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) justifying polygamy, saying it “meets social and moral needs and the provision for it stems from concern and sympathy for women”, facts suggest the the practice is down from 5.7 per cent of Muslim families in 1961 to 2.55 per cent in 2006.

Modi govt 'wholly untrustworthy' on Covid data, censored criticism on pandemic: Lancet

By Rajiv Shah One of the world’s most prestigious health journals, brought out from England, has sharply criticised the Narendra Modi government for being “wholly untrustworthy on Covid-19 health data”, stating, the “official government figures place deaths at more than 530 000, while WHO excess death estimates for 2020 and 2021 are near 4·7 million.”

Search This Blog