CPI(M) snubs Buddha's remarks on bandhs

In a snub to W Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who went public against the party line on bandhs, the CPI(M) said that the party firmly stands for the "fundamental right" of the working class to strike.

In a snub to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who went public against the party line on bandhs, the CPI(M)said on Thursday that the party firmly stands for the "fundamental right" of the working class to strike.

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In a statement, the party Politburo said, "CPI(M) firmly stands for the right to strike by the working class as a fundamental right."

The CPI(M) said it consistently supported country-wide general strikes called by various trade unions against the neo-liberal policies of the Central government and other urgent issues of the working class and toiling people.

The statement came in the backdrop of Bhattachajee's remarks in Kolkata that he would speak out against bandhs even though his party supported this mode of protest.

Other Left parties -- CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc -- and trade unions had earlier taken strong exceptions to the CPI(M) leader's remarks against bandhs saying it is a democratic mode of protest and that they are not ready to forego the right to dissent.

Kerala Chief Minister and Bhattacharjee's party colleague V S Achuthanandan resented the anti-bandh remarks.

"I don't think he had expressed such an opinion. If he had said so, then it was wrong," Achuthanandan had said on Wednesday.

West Bengal CITU General Secretary Kali Ghosh said that Bhattacharjee's remarks were his personal opinion and that "we believe workers will resort to strike as long as capitalism and exploitation are there".