Bureaucrats Tarnishing 'Labour Class' Image

Trivandrum, India, Jul. 7 2002 (INS News) -- The acting secretary, Prof A V Thamarakshan, of the Revolutionary Socialist Party, a constituent of coaliation United Democratic Front Governement, headed by Indian Natioanl Congress,has said that the bureaucracy in the state has hatched a conspiracy to tarnish the image of the labour class, by blaming them for all the ills of the state.

Addressing the state meet of the United Trade Union Congress in Trivandrum, Kerala, Prof Thamarakshan said that if it fails to protect the rights of the labour class, his party would not continue in the United Democratic Front Governement.

Mr. Babu Divakaran, State Minister for Labour and Revolutionary Socialist Party leader, who also addressed the meet, said that the labour law amendments proposed would be implemented after creating a consensus on the issue. He pointed out that his ministry is functioning under the pressure from both the managements and labour unions. He said that the government has to protect the rights of everybody. He also criticised the Congress-controlled Indian National Trade Union Congress for opposing the new labour reforms.

-- Binu Raveendranath in Trivandrum, India
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