BMS, SJM to demand that govt roll back FDI reform

Their protests made govt stall GM seeds trials, drop land Bill amendments and heed their view on patent laws

The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) have decided to hold meetings among their top decision making bodies before launching protests against the government’s latest reforms.

The government had on Monday announced relaxation in foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in several sectors. The government has said "with these changes, India is now the most open economy in the world.

"But Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) associates SJM, BMS and others have for decades opposed such reforms, which they believe would kill indigenous industries and reduce jobs. The BMS, SJM and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh leaders bristle at any insinuation that they have been lenient on the current government’s reform agenda, as they and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) share the same ideological parent – the RSS.

BMS central office-bearers are to meet in Nagpur on June 23-24 to decide the next course of action, said its chief Virjesh Upadhyay. It has also announced its support to the railway strike on July 11.

The SJM is hopeful that the government will heed its advice on the issue of FDI reforms, as it has by stalling field trials of Genetically Modified seeds, on the land Bill amendments and on patent laws. “Good sense will prevail,” SJM co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan said. He reminded how the Manch had opposed tooth and nail the Narendra Modi government’s land acquisition amendments and had even hit the streets in April 2015.

“This government has so far been effective on issues as well as being responsive to people’s views,” Mahajan said, adding that there were some decisions that needed to be rolled back. “We will have discussions with the government. If our voice is not heard then we are prepared to launch a movement.”

He said the SJM has never wavered in its stand, irrespective of who was in the Centre. Even senior leaders like Dattopant Thengdi would join protests against the policies of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. The Manch will especially target the government policy on FDI in retail, which is against the stated position of the BJP itself.

Upadhyay said it was unfair to fault only the BMS on the issue of not being able to oppose reforms that were injurious to domestic industry and job growth. “Political parties of all hues, including the Left, have either ruled or have had a say in the governments at the Centre. But policies have not changed after 1991. Why is it that these parties behave in a way when in the opposition and in another way when in government?” he asked, calling for “an honest analysis”. “Is this because these parties are dishonest or are there other compulsions.”

He said it was unfortunate the trade union movement was divided and frequently would toe the line of its political bosses. But he disagreed vehemently that the BMS, despite it having the same ideological parent as the BJP, was soft on its criticism of the current government. “Our primary concern is labour laws and we have succeeded in making the government see our point of view on the issue,” he added.