News Analysis India

Tag: CPI

  • Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Vs CPI’s Annie Raja: Know Who Is Richer? |

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Communist Party of India’s (CPI) Annie Raja, both prominent contenders for Kerala’s Wayanad seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha Election 2024, have disclosed their financial assets, sparking interest and comparisons.

    Rahul Gandhi’s Net Worth 

    Rahul Gandhi, filing his nomination in Kerala’s Wayanad, revealed assets worth Rs 20 crore, conspicuously devoid of vehicle or residential property ownership. His movable assets stand at Rs 9.24 crore, inclusive of bank deposits, bonds, shares, mutual funds, and jewellery. Notably, Gandhi’s immovable assets, totalling Rs 11.15 crore, encompass agricultural land in Delhi and office space in Gurugram, the former co-owned with sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. His shareholdings, valued at Rs 4.3 crore, include investments in various prominent companies like Asian Paints, Infosys, and Tata Consultancy Services.

    Legal Disputes And Cases

    Gandhi’s affidavit further discloses his involvement in legal disputes, notably a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), alongside defamation complaints by BJP members and a criminal conspiracy case related to Associated Journals Limited.

    Annie Raja’s Assets

    In contrast, CPI’s Annie Raja’s declared assets amount to a modest Rs 72 lakh, with Rs 71 lakh attributed to inherited property. Her financial holdings consist mainly of minimal cash in hand, bank deposits, jewellery, and immovable property. She has declared only Rs 10,000 cash in hand, bank deposits worth Rs 62,000, jewellery worth Rs 25,000 and an inherited property worth Rs 71 lakh. Annie Raja is the general secretary of the CPI’s National Federation of Indian Women and the wife of the party’s general secretary D Raja. 

    The Electoral Duel In Wayanad

    Gandhi, the incumbent from Wayanad, faces a formidable challenge from Annie Raja and state BJP chief K Surendran in the forthcoming elections, scheduled for April 26. Kerala’s parliamentary constituencies will witness polling as part of the nationwide polls, with the nomination deadline set for April 4.

  • Troubles Mount For INDIA-Bloc In Bihar As CPI, CPI-ML Pushes For More Seats |

    The INDIA-bloc faces challenges with the seat allocation in Bihar as the Communist Party of India (CPI) seeks to contest for three seats, while CPI-ML is claiming eight seats. In a press release, the parties have urged the alliance to announce a revised seat sharing agreement. Earlier, the seat distribution deal suggested that Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) will contest on 28 seats whereas Congress was to be fielded from nine seats, two seats were given to CPI and one to CPI-ML.

    The distribution of Lok Sabha election seats has emerged as a contentious matter for both the NDA and the INDIA alliance factions in Bihar. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is also not pleased with the seat sharing deal. Pashupati Paras is dissatisfied with the BJP leadership due to Chirag Paswan’s effective seat-sharing agreement. Sources acquainted with the matter indicated that should Paras’ negotiations with the BJP falter, the RJD is considering offering him a favourable seat-sharing arrangement.

    The Lok Sabha elections in Bihar are scheduled to occur in seven phases, commencing on April 19. Initially, on April 19, voting will transpire for four seats: Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, and Jamui. Subsequently, on April 26, polling will be conducted for five seats: Kishanganj, Katihar, Prunia, Bhagalpur, and Banka. On May 7, another set of five seats will undergo polling: Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura, and Khagaria. May 13 will witness voting for Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, and Munger.  

    On May 20, the electoral process will encompass Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran, and Hajipur. May 25 marks the voting day for Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Siwan, and Maharajganj. Finally, June 1 will see Nalanda, Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Arrah, Buxar, Sasaram, Karakat, and Jahanabad going to the polls. The vote counting is scheduled for June 4. 

  • Bihar: CPI’s D Raja urges students to take up the cudgels against Modi government

    By PTI

    BEGUSARAI:  CPI national general secretary D Raja urged students to take up the cudgels against the BJP government at the Centre which, he alleged, was only interested in “serving the interests of big businesses”.

    Addressing the national conference of All India Students’ Federation (AISF), the CPI’s student wing here on Thursday, Raja also charged the BJP with furthering the RSS’ “fascist” ideology, which was “aimed at perpetuating caste hierarchy and patriarchy”.

    “(PM) Narendra Modi had come to power promising two crore jobs a year, way back in 2014. Where are the 18 crore jobs he should have created by now? And what happened to the black money, which he claimed was so huge that every citizen could get Rs 15 lakh in his or her account?” the CPI leader said.

    Raja alleged that Modi’s rule was “characterised by lies, in sharp contrast to the motto of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ (truth shall prevail)”, and termed as “sinister” the current regime’s moves like the ‘Vishwakarma’ scheme and the National Education Policy (NEP).

    “The Vishwakarma scheme aims at ensuring that children of barbers and carpenters are made to continue with their father’s occupation. This is the RSS thought that seeks to legitimise caste inequality and patriarchy,” he claimed.

    He also said the NEP, which he had opposed when it was introduced in Parliament, “aims at privatisation and commercialisation of education” and urged teachers to join hands with students in demanding a rollback.

    “Rollback of NEP can be brought about only by a rollback of this government,” asserted the CPI leader, who said all Left parties have joined hands and agreed to become a part of ‘INDIA’ coalition, which comprises many regional parties, besides the Congress.

    He alleged that the Modi government was “interested only in promoting the interests of big businesses, particularly friendly tycoons like Adani and Ambani”.

    Recalling with pride his own association with AISF, Raja said, “Students cannot help taking part in politics. This responsibility is on their shoulders by virtue of the Universal Adult Franchise guaranteed in the Constitution”.

    The CPI leader, who spoke for nearly half an hour, began by pointing out that it was the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh and asked the younger generation to draw inspiration from the revolutionary by visiting his memorial in Punjab.

    “His epitaph has only two words  ‘Inquilaab Zindabad’. He uttered these words while being hanged, without the customary black cloth wrapped around his face, as per his own last wish,” said Raja.

    He added that Bhagat Singh was impressed with the ideology of communism, and was said to have been reading a work by Lenin when British officials entered his prison cell to inform him that his execution was being preponed “since there were fears that the news of his death could lead to massive unrest”.

    BEGUSARAI:  CPI national general secretary D Raja urged students to take up the cudgels against the BJP government at the Centre which, he alleged, was only interested in “serving the interests of big businesses”.

    Addressing the national conference of All India Students’ Federation (AISF), the CPI’s student wing here on Thursday, Raja also charged the BJP with furthering the RSS’ “fascist” ideology, which was “aimed at perpetuating caste hierarchy and patriarchy”.

    “(PM) Narendra Modi had come to power promising two crore jobs a year, way back in 2014. Where are the 18 crore jobs he should have created by now? And what happened to the black money, which he claimed was so huge that every citizen could get Rs 15 lakh in his or her account?” the CPI leader said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Raja alleged that Modi’s rule was “characterised by lies, in sharp contrast to the motto of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ (truth shall prevail)”, and termed as “sinister” the current regime’s moves like the ‘Vishwakarma’ scheme and the National Education Policy (NEP).

    “The Vishwakarma scheme aims at ensuring that children of barbers and carpenters are made to continue with their father’s occupation. This is the RSS thought that seeks to legitimise caste inequality and patriarchy,” he claimed.

    He also said the NEP, which he had opposed when it was introduced in Parliament, “aims at privatisation and commercialisation of education” and urged teachers to join hands with students in demanding a rollback.

    “Rollback of NEP can be brought about only by a rollback of this government,” asserted the CPI leader, who said all Left parties have joined hands and agreed to become a part of ‘INDIA’ coalition, which comprises many regional parties, besides the Congress.

    He alleged that the Modi government was “interested only in promoting the interests of big businesses, particularly friendly tycoons like Adani and Ambani”.

    Recalling with pride his own association with AISF, Raja said, “Students cannot help taking part in politics. This responsibility is on their shoulders by virtue of the Universal Adult Franchise guaranteed in the Constitution”.

    The CPI leader, who spoke for nearly half an hour, began by pointing out that it was the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh and asked the younger generation to draw inspiration from the revolutionary by visiting his memorial in Punjab.

    “His epitaph has only two words  ‘Inquilaab Zindabad’. He uttered these words while being hanged, without the customary black cloth wrapped around his face, as per his own last wish,” said Raja.

    He added that Bhagat Singh was impressed with the ideology of communism, and was said to have been reading a work by Lenin when British officials entered his prison cell to inform him that his execution was being preponed “since there were fears that the news of his death could lead to massive unrest”.

  • After Covid-induced break, EC restarts review of recognised party status; hears 3 national, 6 state parties

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: After a halt due to the Covid pandemic, the Election Commission (EC) has restarted the process of reviewing the recognised status of political parties based on their performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and has given individual hearings to NCP and CPI, two of the eight recognised national parties.

    EC sources said TMC was also called. When asked whether he had represented his party before the EC on Thursday, TMC MP Sukhendu Shekar Ray replied in the negative.

    The commission has also heard six recognised state parties based on paras 6A, B and C of the Election Symbol (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. The paragraphs deal with criteria for parties to get national or state party status.

    After the 2019 parliamentary polls, the EC had issued notices to TMC, CPI and NCP, asking why their status should not be downgraded based on the outcome of the general election. However, the process could not move forward due to the pandemic. In November last year, the poll panel revived the process.

    On Tuesday, it heard the response of the Nationalist Congress Party and the CPI.

    “It is a routine exercise. We gave a written representation to EC explaining that we are the oldest political party and have been taking part in parliamentary democracy, formed government on its own in Kerala and have been part of many coalition governments,” CPI general secretary D Raja said.

    An NCP representative had submitted details to EC officials.  A senior party leader described the notice as a “routine matter”.

    “It is an ongoing process that is carried out after every election. Things might have changed for some parties after the recent assembly polls in three states. After Karnataka polls, things could change for other parties,” explained a party functionary. Earlier, the Election Commission heard six state parties to seek their views on the notices. 

    These are Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Mizoram Peoples Conference, Rashtriya Lok Dal, People’s Democratic Alliance, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Revolutionary Socialist Party.

    A recognised national party can contest on all Lok Sabha and assembly seats on its symbol. It also gets to field more star campaigners for electioneering.

    BJP, BSP, CPI, CPI-M, Congress, TMC, NCP and National People’s Party are the eight recognised national parties. There are over 50 recognised state parties.

    NEW DELHI: After a halt due to the Covid pandemic, the Election Commission (EC) has restarted the process of reviewing the recognised status of political parties based on their performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and has given individual hearings to NCP and CPI, two of the eight recognised national parties.

    EC sources said TMC was also called. When asked whether he had represented his party before the EC on Thursday, TMC MP Sukhendu Shekar Ray replied in the negative.

    The commission has also heard six recognised state parties based on paras 6A, B and C of the Election Symbol (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. The paragraphs deal with criteria for parties to get national or state party status.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    After the 2019 parliamentary polls, the EC had issued notices to TMC, CPI and NCP, asking why their status should not be downgraded based on the outcome of the general election. However, the process could not move forward due to the pandemic. In November last year, the poll panel revived the process.

    On Tuesday, it heard the response of the Nationalist Congress Party and the CPI.

    “It is a routine exercise. We gave a written representation to EC explaining that we are the oldest political party and have been taking part in parliamentary democracy, formed government on its own in Kerala and have been part of many coalition governments,” CPI general secretary D Raja said.

    An NCP representative had submitted details to EC officials.  A senior party leader described the notice as a “routine matter”.

    “It is an ongoing process that is carried out after every election. Things might have changed for some parties after the recent assembly polls in three states. After Karnataka polls, things could change for other parties,” explained a party functionary. Earlier, the Election Commission heard six state parties to seek their views on the notices. 

    These are Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Mizoram Peoples Conference, Rashtriya Lok Dal, People’s Democratic Alliance, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Revolutionary Socialist Party.

    A recognised national party can contest on all Lok Sabha and assembly seats on its symbol. It also gets to field more star campaigners for electioneering.

    BJP, BSP, CPI, CPI-M, Congress, TMC, NCP and National People’s Party are the eight recognised national parties. There are over 50 recognised state parties.

  • CPI accuses EC of ‘overstretching’ its constitutional mandate

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CPI has written to the Election Commission alleging that the poll body has “over-stretched” its constitutional mandate by asking political parties to subscribe to a standardised election proforma while making promises.

    The letter, written by party general secretary D Raja, states that the letter from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on this is an “encroachment” upon the powers of the Parliament and political parties.

    “It is with great concern that our party responds to the letter under reference from ECI. What concerns me is the apparent overstretch of ECI’s mandate by asking political parties to subscribe to a standardised disclosure proforma while making promises,” Raja said.

    He said different political parties go to people seeking votes on different pretext, and that matters of policy and spendings are different as various political outfits have varied priorities.

    “As to the allegations that making promises to people is being fiscally responsible, it must be understood that political parties with different ideologies view fiscal resources very differently,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Big question mark over Election Commission’s fairness in last few years: Prashant Bhushan

    The Left leader added that the EC should not restrict political parties in reaching the voters with the agenda they wish to pursue.

    Following up on poll promises and being critical of the incumbent is the job of opposition parties and it should be best left to them, he argued.

    “Altering its stand from what was submitted to the Supreme Court, the ECI’s letter has reached political parties at a time when there is a debate going on around freebies and the Prime Minister has called them ‘revadis’ and that they are being very dangerous for the country.

    “I would like to believe that the ECI’s timing has nothing to do with the views expressed by the Prime Minister,” Raja stated in the letter.

    NEW DELHI: The CPI has written to the Election Commission alleging that the poll body has “over-stretched” its constitutional mandate by asking political parties to subscribe to a standardised election proforma while making promises.

    The letter, written by party general secretary D Raja, states that the letter from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on this is an “encroachment” upon the powers of the Parliament and political parties.

    “It is with great concern that our party responds to the letter under reference from ECI. What concerns me is the apparent overstretch of ECI’s mandate by asking political parties to subscribe to a standardised disclosure proforma while making promises,” Raja said.

    He said different political parties go to people seeking votes on different pretext, and that matters of policy and spendings are different as various political outfits have varied priorities.

    “As to the allegations that making promises to people is being fiscally responsible, it must be understood that political parties with different ideologies view fiscal resources very differently,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Big question mark over Election Commission’s fairness in last few years: Prashant Bhushan

    The Left leader added that the EC should not restrict political parties in reaching the voters with the agenda they wish to pursue.

    Following up on poll promises and being critical of the incumbent is the job of opposition parties and it should be best left to them, he argued.

    “Altering its stand from what was submitted to the Supreme Court, the ECI’s letter has reached political parties at a time when there is a debate going on around freebies and the Prime Minister has called them ‘revadis’ and that they are being very dangerous for the country.

    “I would like to believe that the ECI’s timing has nothing to do with the views expressed by the Prime Minister,” Raja stated in the letter.

  • PM Narendra Modi should explain developments on Indo-China border: CPI’s D Raja

    By PTI

    COIMBATORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi must explain to the nation about the developments on the Indo-China border even as both the neighbouring countries should continue the dialogue process to find a solution to the problems, Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary D Raja said here on Tuesday.

    Replying to a question on reports about China constructing a new bridge at Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh, Raja said both countries were holding dialogue at the defence and ministerial-levels to bring down tensions and solve the persisting border issue.

    He said that being neighbours, both countries should make efforts to find a solution to the problems through dialogue.

    ALSO READ| Pics show Indian Army unfurling tricolour in Galwan Valley on New Year, bust PLA propaganda

    Modi, along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had earlier said in a meeting with all political party representatives on the Galwan valley face-off that India had not conceded an inch of land to China, the CPI leader said.

    Modi is not talking about the issue now but he is duty-bound to explain the developments taking place along the border areas at present, Raja said.

    He said that CPI’s three-day national executive meeting scheduled to be held in Coimbatore from January 26 will discuss the issues prevailing in the country, political situation and challenges being faced by the people.

    The meeting will also deliberate on the need for all political parties to unite and oust the fascist Modi government that has been functioning against the constitution, democracy and secular fabric of the country, he said.

    Stating that the BJP was functioning as a political arm of the RSS and implementing its agenda, Raja said there is a need for all secular, democratic and anti-fascist forces to come together and throw out the Modi government, which was trying to establish a state based on a particular religion, language and caste.

    ALSO READ| Rahul Gandhi questions PM Modi’s silence over reports of China constructing bridge in Pangong Tso

    There have also been reports that RSS was conducting its ‘shakhas’ on the premises of educational institutions in Coimbatore in which youth were trained to be involved in violence, Raja alleged.

  • Left can’t be alternative at Centre if Congress fails: CPI national secretariat member Binoy Viswam

    By Express News Service

    KOCHI: Coming out against the CPM’s stance of not having any political alliance with the Congress, Rajya Sabha MP and CPI national secretariat member Binoy Viswam said Left parties are not in a position to become an alternative if the grand old party is weakened in the country.

    “If the Congress is weakened, definitely the RSS and Sangh Parivar outfits would grab its space in the current scenario,” he said on Sunday. Viswam was addressing a meeting organised by the Congress’ Ernakulam district unit to commemorate the late Congress leader PT Thomas. 

    “In the current Indian political scenario, we, the Leftists, are well aware of the void that will be created if the Congress crumbles before the challenges raised by the BJP-RSS outfits. To avoid such a situation, remembering the ideologies of Nehru, I am of the view that the Congress should not be weakened,” said Viswam. 

    The programme was attended by senior Congress leaders, including Opposition leader VD Satheesan, state Congress president K Sudhakaran, former Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy.  

    His statement assumes significance as CPM leaders from Kerala have strongly objected to an alliance with the Congress in other states claiming that any political alliance with the grand old party will only help the BJP. It is expected that CPM would take a decision on the alliance at its party congress to be held in Kannur in April.

    In December, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Congress cannot be an alternative to the BJP at the Centre. He also made a clarion call for forging a national alliance of secular, like-minded regional parties across the country, excluding Congress, to fight the saffron party.

    “Congress, which is claiming to be a secular party, has adopted a policy of communal appeasement. Congress and BJP have the same stance on economic policies. Such a Congress cannot become an alternative to BJP,” Pinarayi said, inaugurating the CPM Ernakulam district conference at Kalamassery last month. 

    Viswam admitted that the political situation in Kerala was entirely different but he was not ready to respond on the issue now. While the CPI state leaders are also against having trucks with the Congress, the party national leaders are involved in a move to launch a secular, democratic alternative with the Congress support against the BJP at the Centre. 

  • Maoists blow up railway tracks in Jharkhand, train services disrupted

    By PTI

    LATEHAR/MEDININGAR/CHAIBASA: Suspected members of banned CPI (Maoist) blew up portions of railway tracks in Jharkhand’s Latehar and West Singhbhum districts in the early hours of Saturday, disrupting train services on Barkakana-Garhwa and Howrah-Mumbai routes, police said.

    A rail track between Sonua and Lotapahar stations in West Singhbhum, under Chakradharpur Division of South Eastern Railway (SER), was damaged past Friday night in a blast that was allegedly triggered by the Maoists.

    The banned outfit has called for a nationwide bandh on Saturday to protest against the arrest of its top leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, by the Jharkhand Police.

    Bose was the mastermind behind more than 100 incidents of attack and arson in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

    Ajay Linda, the district superintendent of police, told PTI that suspected ultras have triggered a low-intensity blast between Sonua and Lotapahar and damaged some sleepers laid underneath the tracks.

    Services on main Howrah-Mumbai line were restored via an alternative track from 8 am on Saturday and services returned to normal two hours later, he said.

    In Latehar, too, a blast took place on the railway tracks between Richughuta and Demu stations around 12.30 am, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Palamu Range, Raj Kumar Lakra, told PTI.

    Maoist cadres squad blew up the tracks, bringing trains to a halt on the Barkakana-Garhwa route, under the Dhanbad division of Eastern Central Railway (ECR), Lakra said.

    All police stations in Palamu, Garhwa and Latehar have been put on high alert, the DIG said.

    ECR Railway spokesperson PK Mishra said a trolley of a diesel engine was damaged in the blast.

    Mishra also said train movement on Richuguta-Tori line, under the Dhanbad division of ECR, could be restored only after ten hours of operation.

    Several trains were diverted, while Dehri-on-Sone-Barwadih and Barwadih-Nesubogomo special trains cancelled, he stated.

    Officials said routes of four express and passengers trains, including Sasaram-Ranchi passenger train and Jammu-Tawi Express, have been diverted in the wake of blast on Tori- Latehar track early on Saturday, Movement of passenger buses from Medininagar to Ranchi has also been put on hold, the officials added.

  • Maoists blow up railway tracks in J’khand, train services disrupted on Barkakana-Garhwa route

    By PTI

    LATEHAR/ MEDININGAR: Members of banned CPI (Maoist) suspectedly blew up a portion of railway tracks in Jharkhand’s Latehar district in the early hours of Saturday, disrupting train services on the Barkakana-Garhwa route, police said.

    A blast took place on the railway tracks between Richughuta and Demu stations around 12.30 am, an officer said.

    Members of a CPI-Maoist squad blew up railway tracks in Latehar, disrupting movement of trains on Barkakana-Garhwa rail route, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Palamu Range, Raj Kumar Lakra told PTI.

    The banned outfit has called for a nationwide bandh on Saturday to protest against the arrest of its top leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, by the Jharkhand Police.

    Bose was the mastermind behind more than 100 incidents of attack and arson in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Lakra said the railway authorities are repairing the tracks.

    All the police stations in Palamu, Garhwa and Latehar districts under the Dhanbad Division of Central Eastern Railway have been alerted after the blast, the DIG said. ECR Railway spokesperson PK Mishra said the trolley of a diesel engine has been damaged in the blast.

    Special teams of Barkakana and Barwadih have reached the spot to repair the railway lines and work is on, he said. Several trains have been diverted, while Dehri-Onsone-Barwadih and Barwadih-Nesubogomo special trains cancelled. Movement of passenger buses from Medininagar to Ranchi has also been stopped, a state government official said.

  • CPI MP Binoy Viswam writes to Rajnath Singh, slams government decision to corporatise OFB

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: CPI MP Binoy Viswam on Tuesday wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, slamming the government’s decision to corporatise the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and highlighting the “anti-worker” decisions being taken by the new management.

    Alleging that the new management has “arbitrarily” decided to alter the working conditions of the employees, Viswam said that it’s the government’s responsibility to ensure that their rights and interests are protected.

    The government dissolved the OFB with effect from October 1 and transferred its assets, employees and management to seven defence public sector units (DPSUs).

    The OFB supplies critical arms and ammunition to the armed and paramilitary forces.

    “I want to draw your attention to the escalating problems that have arisen as a result of the government’s decision to corporatise the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and the arbitrary anti-workers’ decisions being made by the management of the seven new corporations,” Viswam said in his letter.

    “Despite widespread opposition to the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board, which employs over 70,000 people, the Union government decided to push ahead with its plan,” he alleged.

    The CPI MP claimed that certain guarantees given to the workers have not been honoured.

    “Unfortunately, in the first two weeks of this move, the new management has arbitrarily and unilaterally decided to alter the service conditions of the employees including working hours, overtime allowances, medical benefits amongst many others. Despite multiple representations by the Employees Federations to the Secretary (DP), there has been no action taken in the matter,” he said.

    He said as the Department of Defence Production embarks on this new phase, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the rights and interests of the employees are protected in accordance with the guarantees given to them.

    “These employees have made exemplary contributions to the defence of India and they must not be treated in an unjust manner.

    “I, therefore, urge you to intervene in this matter and ensure that the management of the seven corporations do not take unilateral decisions that go against the assurances given to employees,” he said.

    In an order dated September 28, the defence ministry said that the government has decided that all employees of the OFB (Group A, B & C) belonging to the production units and also the identified non-production units shall be transferred en masse to the new DPSUs on terms of foreign service without any deputation allowance (deemed deputation) initially for a period of two years from the appointed date (October 1).

    The seven DPSUs are Munition India Limited, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited, Troop Comforts Limited, Yantra India Limited, India Optel Limited and Gliders India Limited.