By K. Sen STRIKERS were shot dead last Tuesday, and thousands of trade unionists arrested during strike organised by eight major Indian unions. The strikers anti-labour legislation of the Ghandi government.
After Indira Gandhi's Congress (I) party won the general election in January emergency laws Ciliciabilly National Security Act government a tree hand to imprison and detain opponents. The Essential Services Maintenance Ordinance (tVoU) in July 1981 gave the government the power to ban all strikes by workers in the 'essential services sector.
This repressive legislation, tempts to break the organised strength of the WorKINg class, negotiations of the Indian government with the International Monetary Fund for India's hiahest ever loan rupees. The conditions for the loan are stringent, and are thought measures to limit Wales foreign investment, so that India's foreign debts can be paid ott.
trade one-day general Trades were protesting backs policies strike.
1980, reminiscent the period were introduced. The (NSA) gave the centres.
school which atcoincides WEEn OT billion to include attract be sent In response to the repressive legislation and sharply rising prices the eight major formed a orcaniscuoni committee:
Union Congress (INTUC), Gandhi, refused Despite attempts by the government to pre-empt the strike by mass arrests on the evening before it was due to take place, and despite the massing of troops and police in the major towns, the strike was successful in nearly all the major industries in the two states where there are Com. munist governments - Kerala and Bengal the work stoppage was almost total. In Bombay the second largest industrial city virtually every shop, factory, was shut. banks government-owned insurance companies and newspapers were shut.
During the strike itself demonstrations occurred in most of the industrial centres. with the police and army took place. It is 4 believed that the death toll was around Twelve. ine indian workers are in uroent need of support. Resolutions and letters condemning the killing of workers should High Commissioner, India House, Aldwych, London WC2.
strike but the inaiar which support the office and ane major Gandhi and her troops Socialist Challenge 30=3