12-07-2006, 07:18 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>CITU split wide open on IT stir </b>
Pioneer News Service | Kolkata
Though the Centre for Indian Tade Unions (CITU) announced a nationwide industrial stir on December 14, <b>the labour arm of the Communist Party of India-Marxists (CPM) seems to be divided over inclusion of IT and ITes in their agitation plans.</b>
According to inside sources, a majority of the leaders in the CITU State unit have decided to go along with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. With the Chief Minister earlier having promised a hassle-free day for the IT sector, State CITU president Shyamal Chakroborty has decided to allow the 'Intelligent City' at Salt Lake to function on December 14.
Though leaders refused to comment on what transpired in a State Committee meeting, according to reports from the closed-door meet, <b>Chakroborty urged the CITU national president and CPM politburo member MK Pandhe -matter-of-factly - to first enforce a strike in the IT concerns in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Noida and then only, "we will follow suit". </b>
Chakroborty's statement, which also reflects the Chief Minister's mind, is being treated as a final verdict insofar as keeping the IT sector out of the strike's reach is concerned, say insiders.
According to sources the Chief Minister - who was confronted by IT bigwigs after the sector came under attack after last year's September 29 industrial strike - had assured the investors he would not allow it to be repeated in Bengal.
Noticeably in an earlier development, Bhattacharjee managed to dispatch militant CITU leader and CPM politburo member Chittabrata Majumdar to Rajya Sabha, thereby creating a space for Chakroborty - a reformist in State CITU president.
For the records, <b>West Bengal became the first State where IT professionals recently formed an association under the CITU</b>. According to sources, though the Chief Minister got the backing of Left Front chairman and Politburo colleague Biman Bose as well as party patriarch Jyoti Basu, he faces stiff resistance from Cabinet colleague Subhash Chakroborty who strongly feel the IT should also be included in the strike. "If we have to leave IT why shouldn't we leave paan shops as well?" an irate Transport Minister, not known to be best of friends of the Chief Minister, maintained.
Notwithstanding the CITU's official stand, the IT sector still remains under threat, sources said, adding that the CM has already given the police a "free hand to deal with mischief mongers irrespective of their colour".
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Pioneer News Service | Kolkata
Though the Centre for Indian Tade Unions (CITU) announced a nationwide industrial stir on December 14, <b>the labour arm of the Communist Party of India-Marxists (CPM) seems to be divided over inclusion of IT and ITes in their agitation plans.</b>
According to inside sources, a majority of the leaders in the CITU State unit have decided to go along with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. With the Chief Minister earlier having promised a hassle-free day for the IT sector, State CITU president Shyamal Chakroborty has decided to allow the 'Intelligent City' at Salt Lake to function on December 14.
Though leaders refused to comment on what transpired in a State Committee meeting, according to reports from the closed-door meet, <b>Chakroborty urged the CITU national president and CPM politburo member MK Pandhe -matter-of-factly - to first enforce a strike in the IT concerns in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Noida and then only, "we will follow suit". </b>
Chakroborty's statement, which also reflects the Chief Minister's mind, is being treated as a final verdict insofar as keeping the IT sector out of the strike's reach is concerned, say insiders.
According to sources the Chief Minister - who was confronted by IT bigwigs after the sector came under attack after last year's September 29 industrial strike - had assured the investors he would not allow it to be repeated in Bengal.
Noticeably in an earlier development, Bhattacharjee managed to dispatch militant CITU leader and CPM politburo member Chittabrata Majumdar to Rajya Sabha, thereby creating a space for Chakroborty - a reformist in State CITU president.
For the records, <b>West Bengal became the first State where IT professionals recently formed an association under the CITU</b>. According to sources, though the Chief Minister got the backing of Left Front chairman and Politburo colleague Biman Bose as well as party patriarch Jyoti Basu, he faces stiff resistance from Cabinet colleague Subhash Chakroborty who strongly feel the IT should also be included in the strike. "If we have to leave IT why shouldn't we leave paan shops as well?" an irate Transport Minister, not known to be best of friends of the Chief Minister, maintained.
Notwithstanding the CITU's official stand, the IT sector still remains under threat, sources said, adding that the CM has already given the police a "free hand to deal with mischief mongers irrespective of their colour".
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