Trade unions call for nationwide strike on Jan 8
Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Dec 26: A front of national trade unions on Thursday called for a countrywide strike on January 8 in protest against "anti-labour" and "anti-industry" policies of the BJP-led central government, a trade union leader said.
A K Jha, general secretary of the Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh (RCMS), a constituent unit of the INTUC, said the decision was taken at a meeting of recognised central trade unions here.
Representatives of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Congress Trade Union Cong (AITUC), Central Industrial Trade Union (CITU) and Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) took part in the meeting, he said.
"The central government is reducing the basic rights and facilities of workers and privatising public sector units for the capitalists. Trade unions are left no other option but to call for a strike," Jha said.
Over four lakh miners working in different coal mines across Jharkhand would take part in the strike," he said.
Jha said labour laws were being bent in favour of industrialists and demands of workers were being ignored.
Another meeting of the trade union leaders has been scheduled on December 30 for making the nationwide strike a success, he added.
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How can govt move amendments to women law before notifying principal Act: Opposition in LS
New Delhi (PTI): Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Friday questioned the government's decision to move a bill to amend the 2023 women quota law before bringing the principal Act into force.
Soon after laying of parliamentary papers, K C Venugopal rose to point out a law ministry notification issued last night around 10 pm to bring into force the 2023 women's reservation law with effect from April 16, much after a bill to amend the Act was introduced and discussed in the House.
DMK's Kanimozhi also flagged the issue, wondering the logic in discussing an amendment after notifying the principal Act.
Opposition members sought a clarification from law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal who was present in the Lok Sabha.
"The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam passed in September 2023 has come into force with being published in the Gazette only at 9.55 pm last night.
"It is shocking that the government brought amendments to a Constitutional provision that was not even published in the gazette! This shows the government’s unprepared and lackadaisical approach to serious lawmaking," Venugopal later posted on X.
He said this is also yet another evidence that the treasury benches look at the Parliament as no more than a rubber stamp, not bothered about the procedures and protocol necessary for a fair legislative process.
An official has earlier explained that bringing the law into force was essential as its proposed amendment will not have come into effect without that.
The constitution amendment Bill became a law but did not become part of the Constitution as the government did not bring it into force.
If a law does not come into force, how can its proposed amendment be implemented. Hence, it was brought into force with effect from April 16, the official explained.
