The President Takes Over

by Bhaskar Sarkar

Strike against the Strikers

  The raids on the union leaders of the Central Government Employees and dismissal of some of them for having assets beyond their incomes proved to be too much for these special class of people, who were used to seeing Government officers and ministers cowering on their chairs during meetings. In their anger and desperation, they gave a call for an immediate strike. The call had a mixed response. The politicians, particularly of the Left Front, egged them on and assured them of all support. But many in the rank and file were wary. They remembered what Indira Gandhi had done to the railway strike during the emergency of the seventies. The President was not a person to be trifled with. He had demonstrated his ruthlessness. There was much to be lost and little to be gained. Many did not want a confrontation with the President. They tried to reason with their union leaders. But it was to no avail. Some of the leaders had lost all and were ready for a fight to finish.

  The President on the other hand was happy. He wanted to establish the futility of going against the Government. He called the Army Chief, Chief of Delhi Police and the secretaries of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Housing and Urban Development. He told them that he wanted the names of all Union Leaders and their residential addresses. This information and the location of all government colonies were to be given to the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Delhi Police. He instructed that all union leaders were to be arrested by dawn. All the colonies of government servants would be surrounded by police and the Army and it will be ensured that no one was prevented from going to work. He also addressed the nation on television and told them that the strike was illegal and contrary to law. He warned Government employees that they must report for work or face the consequences.

  By five in the morning all union leaders had been arrested. Heavy police and Army presence was visible at each colony. A check post had been established at each out gate. All persons trying to leave were asked where they were going. Those who said they were going to join duty were allowed to proceed. Those on strike were not permitted to leave. Those trying to obstruct persons going to work or threatening them were quickly arrested. About 80 percent went to work. The remaining 20 percent went on strike. Some went to their offices on the pretext of going to work and then began to shout slogans and threaten others. They were immediately picked up and taken to their homes. By noon the electricity and water supply to the houses of the striking employees had been cut off. All vendors were prevented from selling any item to the families of the striking employees. A sentry was posted to each block and the neighbors were told not to provide anything to the families of the striking employees. Soon the striking employees were busy ferrying water. None of the employees were able to leave their colonies. The labor leaders were unable to muster people for any demonstration. Some hard core agitators threw stone at their neighbor's houses. They were quickly arrested for destruction of public property.

  The strike fizzled out before the third day. By the second day 95 percent employees had joined work. By the third day almost all had reported for work. Those who went on strike were dismissed. Those who had not been involved in any acts of violence were reinstated with loss of seniority and on payment of the fine. Normalcy had been restored. The union leaders and those who had indulged in violence were dismissed and jailed. Cost of damages was recovered from them and repairs were carried out.

  The Left Parties cried foul. West Bengal observed a day Bandh. The President ignored the event. His aim had been achieved. He did not think that there would be any more strikes by Government employees during the emergency.

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