No letup in Munnar strike, CPM leaders face wrath

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Munnar continued to remain on the boil as the plantation workers’ strike entered the eighth day on Saturday with the CPM making a desperate bid to extend unsolicited support to the agitators.

The government has convened a meeting with the representatives  of workers and the company in Kochi on Sunday to resolve the agitation which has severely hit tourism in the popular hill destination.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has asked Power Minister Aryadan Mohammad and Labour Minister Shibu Baby John to hold negotiations with the strikers  and the company representatives.

“Are the demands raised by the workers genuine? Yes they are. Do we have to find a solution? Yes we have to. We are working towards it,” said Mr Chandy in Kochi.

Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan is visiting Munnar on Sunday to express solidarity with the thousands sitting on the road.

Earlier in the day, dramatic scenes were witnessed in Munnar when CPM leaders P.K. Sreemathy, MP, M.C. Josephine and K.K. Shailaja arrived  at the place amid protests from hundreds of strikers.  

After raising a couple of slogans they walked straight into the milling crowds and squatted on the ground along with them.   But their action provoked the workers who forced them to get up and move out.

“There is no place for those coming here after eight days. Where were you all these days?  Please leave,” the workers were heard shouting. They were literally pulled by hand.

The CPM leaders understood their sentiments and as they were moving out, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan came in accompanied by a huge posse of police. CPI MLA E.S. Bijimol, who enjoys good rapport with the workers, had a tough time pacifying the women to allow Mr Kodiyeri to speak.

The CPM leader, sporting his trademark smile, waved at the crowd. But the response was lukewarm. He made a brief speech reminding the agitators of the great things that the previous LDF government had done, demanded 10 cents of land for each family and even thundered that party workers would sacrifice their lives to ensure the success of their agitation. But when all these announcements failed to elicit any response, Sreemathy pleaded,  “please clap hands.” Some responded positively.

It was a strange sight  as the CPM state secretary struggled  to convince the women that his party was not with the corporates but with the workers.

As they  grew restless, police officers accompanying Mr Koidyeri advised him not heed  TV journalists’ request for an impromptu presser at the spot. Soon they were whisked away by the cops.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala criticised the CPM for politicising the issue.  “It is a workers’ strike. The CPM is trying to politicise the issue which is wrong. We sympathise with them,” he said.

Labour Minister Shibu Baby John equated the strike with the Jasmine Revolution. “CPM is trying to whitewash the activities of the management. Many are heading for Munnar to get applause. But we need to find a solution at the earliest,” he said. Meanwhile, Devikulam MLA S. Rajendran sat on a hunger strike demanding an early resolution to  the issue.  

AAP leader Sara Joseph was among the few persons who were well-received by the agitators. “These women are out in the open, in hot sun, leaving their families and children at home, without food and water. While companies are earning crore, the workers are living like slaves. Government, trade unions and politicians all say the workers’ demands are genuine.  But the government should tell whether it is with the corporates or with the poor workers?” she said.