Deep divisions mar the labor front as Thursday’s Bharat Bandh looms. Karnataka-based NFITU has parted ways with 10 central trade unions and farm bodies decrying central policies, positioning itself as a reform ally.
‘Pure politics drives this strike—we’re not in,’ declared President V. Venkatesh. He mandated normal operations for affiliates, hailing all government labor changes as beneficial. Left parties drew his ire for fomenting unrest.
Applauding the quartet of new Labor Codes, Venkatesh thanked PM Modi, Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and Secretary Vandana Gurnani. ‘Nationwide Wage Code uniformity is long-awaited progress,’ he observed. His January 16 parley with Mandaviya included pleas for Provident Fund hikes.
Venkatesh spotlighted fixed-term trainee protections, granting gratuity post-training—a boon over old dismissal practices. Dismissing strikes, he noted, ‘Ministers invite discussion; some unions just left the room.’ Broad participation seems unlikely, he predicted, with major PSUs and industries staying open.
The pro-strike bloc alleges anti-labor moves and foresees chaos in banking, energy, transit, healthcare, education, and supplies. NFITU’s bold move highlights a schism, potentially diluting the Bandh’s clout while spotlighting reform merits.