Govt. in a bind over postal strike

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 15. The Government finds itself in a bind in invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to force the postal workers into ending their agitation as the legislation is applicable only in six States. Meanwhile, the deadline set by the Delhi High Court for resolving the crisis expired today without any solution forthcoming from the Government.

Left with no other option in view of the lapse of ESMA at the Central level, the Centre is coaxing State Governments to invoke it. The Union Cabinet Secretary has written to State Chief Secretaries to ``take appropriate measures to maintain law and order in view of the strike''. This was confirmed by the Union Communications Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan.

According to reliable information, the Left-ruled states - Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura - and Assam have refused to resort to repressive measures to deal with the longest strike by postal workers since Independence.

Going by the observations of MPs in both Houses of Parliament, the Congress (in power in the three States where ESMA is still applicable), the Telugu Desam and the RJD appeared lukewarm to the idea of action against the postal workers.

The issue figured through a special mention in the Rajya Sabha and a calling attention motion in the Lok Sabha. Members of the Congress and Left parties assailed the Government in the Upper House for its apathy towards postal workers. They said the Delhi High Court order on the strike was an erosion of the power of the executive. The court asked both sides to resolve the strike by any means possible and also directed the Government to resolve all issues by December 20.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Paswan threatened postal employees by observing that ``the Court has discussed that postal services be restored by December 15 and that it shall be open to the Government to take such steps as are warranted for restoration of the services, including ESMA if the circumstances so warrant.''

Unconvinced with the Minister's reply, CPI, CPI(M) and RJD members walked out of the House in protest. Members belonging to the Telugu Desam and the Congress were also critical of the Government's handling of the strike.

Postal leaders remained unfazed by the threats and decided to continue the stir.

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