Date:02/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/02/stories/2007030208591200.htm

National

Karat calls for strong working class movements

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: Emphasising the need to build a "powerful trade union and working class movements" and for working towards a "united movement," Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said here on Thursday that the working class movement was facing new challenges in the face of globalisation.

Mr. Karat was speaking at a meeting organised by the State Committee of the CPI (M) in memory of Chittabrata Majumdar, general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and member of the Polit Bureau of the CPI (M), who passed away on February 20.

Scientific outlook

Chittabrata Majumdar used to adopt a scientific outlook to new developments and technology "and also exemplified the best in the working class movement and communist movement in West Bengal," Mr. Karat recalled. "He was a comrade who could hear contrary views, listen to arguments, stay firm on his views and yet submit to collective decisions," he added.

"After the United Progressive Alliance government [had assumed power] a series of Bills are pending because Chittabrata Majumjdar would tell us that this Bill contains this provision which harms the interest of the working class," he said.

Asking the congregation to vow to take Chittabrata Majumdar's "unfulfilled work towards completion," veteran Marxist leader, Jyoti Basu, said that the departed leader used to believe in "collective leadership" and had even on "one or two occasions invited the Bharatiya Janata Party to join trade unions."

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that "the times were complex where the working class movement is seeking a direction in the face of globalisation and having to find ways to fend off capitalism's assaults."

Speaking on Chittabrata Majumdar's scientific outlook, Mr. Bhattacharjee said that the trade unionist and leader of the working class had "contributed to spreading the scientific temper among the people which provides the cutting edge to social consciousness."