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'We don't want privatisation'

After Bal Thackeray, Sharad Rao is probably the most feared man in Bombay. The undisputed trade union king, Rao can bring Bombay to a standstill with a nod of his head and just a few telephone calls.

The Municipal Majdoor Sangh leader was last in the news for a strike he had orchestrated demanding a pay hike for municipal workers whom many consider to be already overpaid by government standards.

But this time around, Rao has taken up a greater cause. He's proclaimed a war against the central and state governments for their 'anti-labour', 'anti-farmer' and 'anti-people' economic policies. And to further that war, Rao has decreed that a Maharashtra bandh be observed on April 25.

But what exactly is expected out of the bandh? Though the reasons for the bandh have been cited as economic ones, is the bandh politically motivated? Excerpts from the tete-a-tete Priya Ganapati had with Rao.

It is still unclear why the bandh has been called...

The bandh is against the new economic order resulting from privatisation, divestment and the entry of multinational companies.

We all know the problems that have been created because of Enron looting the common man. The bandh is to protest against this and also the closure of textile mills in Bombay.

The opening up of the agricultural sector has affected the farmers and even traders are unhappy with the government. And here I mean, both, the state and central governments.

But all this seems to be very vague. There is no specific demand that you have raised.

Our demands are specific. We don't want privatisation. We don't want this contract system that is being used in many industries. We don't want divestment. We don't want the opening up of the economy. These are all very specific demands.

Yes, I know that there are no specific remedies to these demands. And I also understand that a one-day strike cannot resolve all these issues. But it can draw attention to these demands. This strike is just the beginning.

But why all this now? It's been a long time since the economy was opened up.

In the last ten years, there has not been much resistance to this because people did not realise the implications. It is only now that people are waking up to the reality.

This is the first time in the history of India that such an action is taking place. In fact, since the announcement of the bandh, I have received so many calls from abroad about people wanting to know the real impact of the government's policies. That shows the level of anxiety among the people.

So, what do you expect the bandh to achieve?

Wednesday's bandh cannot change everything. It is a token strike. It is a token agitation. It is an indication of the steps that we will take in the future.

If you take any major agitation, it does not start on a countrywide level immediately. It slowly starts spreading as it will in the case of this agitation also.

But what about the common people? Won't this strike be a big inconvenience to them?

I think that the media is mistaken. Tatas and Birlas are not the people. The people are those who are employed in the public sector or are self-employed.

The people are those who are staying in chawls and are working as traders. There is no question of inconveniencing these people because they are joining in the strike.

Lorries are going to be off the roads. Banks, LIC and other insurance workers are joining in. Wholesale workers will be a part of the strike. Sugar industry is going to be closed. Auto rickshaws and taxis will keep off the roads. Factories will be closed. You name the sector or industry and they are all participating in the strike.

So, there is no question of inconveniencing anyone.

What kind of political support has this bandh garnered?

This is a call given by trade unions. There are independent as well as politically backed trade unions. And all of them have unanimously decided to be a part of the bandh. Though the Congress is in power in state, the trade unions backed by it are supporting us.

Nine political parties, including the Shiv Sena, the Republican Party of India and the Left. Actually, except for the ruling party, everyone else has expressed support for the bandh.

But do you not think that the bandh will reflect badly on the state and specially Bombay, since all commercial activity will be stopped for a day?

Maharashtra has already lost out on a lot of things because of these new economic policies. Sixty per cent of the factories in the state are closed.

Imports of agricultural products like apples and pulses have affected the farmers greatly. People are already protesting the way Enron has been conducting its business and the loss caused by it.

Compared to all this, the bandh will not affect the image of the state in any way.

After this bandh, what is the next step?

We are meeting on May 2 to decide on the future action. The entire trade union leadership leading this agitation will meet and think of the next step. Political leaders who also are union leaders will be a part of the meeting. Many things can happen then.

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