India Inc Has No Love for Migrant Workers: Raj Thackeray

Author: Pankaj Sonkusre

MUMBAI: Forget the politically correct vibes. If Raj Thackeray is to be believed, India Inc has no love for migrant workers. The industrialists are opposing sons-of-the-soil theory because they fear such a policy would affect their bottomlines, said Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader.

Mr Thackeray recently created quite a stir by demanding 80% job reservations for Maharashtrians even in the private sector. His demand not only perturbed private enterprises, but send shock waves across the political

spectrum. Sensing the populist tone of the demand and worried about its political fallout, the Congress-NCP government took Mr Thackeray’s demand a step further and initiated a process to implement it.

This has definitely rattled India Inc. But Mr Thackeray is unfazed. Talking to ET about his political agenda and its impact on the state’s overall economy and business environment, Mr Thackeray lashed out at industrialists.

“They are critical of me because they are worried only about their balance sheets and least bothered about social obligation,” he said. Mr Thackeray’s argument is that his agitation will force industrialists and businessmen

to employ locals who will seek at least minimum wages from them.

“At present, industries pay a pittance to these migrants from Bihar and UP. As per the state’s Minimum Wage Act, every unskilled worker should be paid a minimum of Rs 90 to Rs 106 per day. But desperate migrants work for less than half of that. Industries are exploiting them to the hilt,” Mr Thackeray said.

According to his close aide Shirish Parkar, there is a gross violation of five laws in Maharashtra. “Industrialists hardly follow the Minimum Wage Act, Payment of Wages Act, that sets the deadline by which labourers should be paid, Provident Fund Act, Employee State Insurance Act and the act regarding the Professional Tax,” Mr Parkar said.

Mr Thackeray claimed that because of his agitation, companies would be forced to employ locals and fork out more wages. “Local youth here is certainly not as desperate as migrant labourer. As such, he will expect anything not less than stipulated daily wages. This is the real reason industrial bodies and business organisations are opposing my demand. It’s not that they have any love for Bihari and UP migrants,” Mr Thackeray lashed out.

Fear of flight of capital from Maharashtra too, is not bothering Mr Thackeray. When asked what his party will do if these industries decide to relocate outside Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray asked: ”Where will they go? They are here because we have the best industrial environment and infrastructure. They are opposing me for opposing Bihari migrants? Then why can’t they relocate to Bihar?”MNS leader expects that every state, sooner or later, will have to confront the issue of migrants. “No state can allow uncontrolled influx of migrants at the cost of locals. Everywhere one has to honour and help locals’ growth,” he said.

He claimed that even the government agencies are equally partisan when it comes to employing locals. “Former do it for economic reasons while the latter have political interests in mind.” His party under the Right to Information Act, has compiled data on recent recruitment in various Mumbai-based government agencies. The Provident Fund Commissioner’s office recently filled in 1,157 vacancies of which only 68 are locals. While income tax commissioner offices roped in 179 employees, only 16 were locals.

Of the 149 Group C employees Western Railway recently selected, only six are locals; and only 23 locals were selected of the 357 Group D employees recently recruited. Central Railway has selected only 12 Ticket Collectors, while Western Railway has roped in only 8, claimed MNS. “This happens because locals are not informed about job opportunities in many areas. Advertisements of these vacancies in Mumbai appear in UP and Bihar. How long we will let this go on,” he asked.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/india-inc-has-no-love-for-migrant-workers-raj-thackeray-410830.html

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The General Election

Author: Ernie Fitzpatrick

Hillary is still talking about battling all the way to the White House, but that rhetoric is about as serious and sensible as the “right wing conspiracy” claims that she’s posited for years. The truth is, both Obama and McCain are now gearing up for the five month push to November and that means new battle plans for both.

In a sign of what could be an extremely unusual fall campaign, the two sides said Saturday that they would be open to holding joint forums or unmoderated debates across the country in front of voters through the summer. Mr. Obama, campaigning in Oregon, said that the proposal, floated by Mr. McCain’s advisers, was “a great idea.”

I wonder if they can keep it civil?

Even before Mr. Obama fully wraps up the Democratic presidential nomination, he and Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, are starting to assemble teams in the key battlegrounds, develop negative advertising and engage each other in earnest on the issues and a combustible mix of other topics, including age and patriotism. Hey it’s over, Rasmussen says so!

Age and patriotism? Hmm. Maybe somewhat civil?

Mr. McCain, of Arizona, will spend the next week delivering a series of speeches on global warming, evidence of his intention to battle Mr. Obama for independent voters, a group the two men have laid claim to. Those voters tend to recoil from hard-edged partisan politics, and presumably would be receptive to the kind of bipartisan forum that Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama seemed open to on Saturday.

While global warming is an important issue, it’s certianly not in my top 5 critical issues.

Clearly concerned that questions about such things as his association with his former pastor had damaged his standing with independents, Mr. Obama, of Illinois, is likely to embark on a summertime tour intended to highlight the life story that was once central to his appeal. Preliminary plans include a stop in Hawaii, his birthplace, and a major address there at Punchbowl Cemetery, where his maternal grandfather, who fought in World War II, is buried.

At least it’s refreshing to not have Hillary in the mix any more- running for president that is.

And maybe we can get Bubba off the front page as well. He deserves some time of. Take a decade!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/the-general-election-410458.html

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ernie@lrchouston.com

West Virgina Write Off

Author: Ernie Fitzpatrick

I’m amazed at how the tabloids and news sources love to try and create drama where there is none. I’ve seen numerous reports over the weekend of a “Hillary come back” as she wins West Virginia. A headline reads, “Will West Virgina Primary Save Hillary”? What sane writer would posit such a question? West Virginia?

CNN reports, “West Virginia is expected to go for Clinton big time — and the polls show it. Clinton has a 43-point advantage over Obama, 66 percent to 23 percent, according to a survey from the American Research Group released Friday”. And?

The North Carolina primary ended this race.

Let’s see now, West Virginia barely has a million registered voters so maybe 400,000 will vote? Maybe 250,000 Democrats? And out of 4,500 elected delegates West Virgina gets 28 which is we give Hillary a 2-1 division, she gets 18 to Obama’s 10. Hillary gains 8 delegates. Woo-hoo!

Did I mention that Obama gained NINE superdelegates on Friday alone?

This race is over except tome of the press would like to keep the drama going and then there’s El Rushbo who would like to keep Operation Chaos a namesake for his treasure trove. But, alas, the REALITY is, Obama has the nomination and it will be confirmed when he nails down the majorioty of the suepr delegates on May 20th after Oregon and Kentucky have their say and split the votes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/west-virgina-write-off-410452.html

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ernie@lrchouston.com