Relevance of Strike

Harasankar Adhikari

The strike is historically a weapon of the working classes to revive their working and living condition. It is for rights and justice. It is psychologically an appropriate strategy to raise voice against the rulers, and it forces the rulers to rectify and to resolve the exploitation and deprivation of working classes.

India, democratic nation is ruled by the elected representatives of the people. The government is pledged to meet the goal of a welfare state. The political parties (in government or its opponent) take an oath to the development of majority (people in the bottom of the pyramid), to ensure their rights and justice. Every time, these parties whether in government or as opponent have been taking initiatives from the 1st day of the independence and to be continued their initiatives in the future, but the basic problems of the BOP still exit. The density and magnitude of problems are increasing because of defective policy, planning and programme (dole in nature). In addition to the above, corruption and political pollution determines and dominates all acts and functions of the government. It is obviously not less effective matching with the growing population and their varied want and demand.

Here majority is in unorganised informal sectors, and they have to adjust with the terms and conditions of their respective employers because they no or rear opportunity to go against it. There is no alternative earning opportunity to them. Therefore, they are well-experienced that no one may be able to change their fate rather than their labour. They have to work daily to meet their basic needs. They hardly ever support any political party. But they have to support to avoid chaos and harassment. The.structure, process and functions of the political party are the cause of it. They opine that strike/agitation, etc, is an obstacle for them because who would give them wages of a day, if they do not work. It is a created agony.

It is fact that these working classes are silent spectators as well as participants of the election. It is well-known to every political party of India.

The strike is programme of a political party (especially the party is in opponent position). In India, the opponent has no such activities rather than criticism of the government (ruling political party). It has less connection with the general mass. While the party in government never provides any space to the opponent, it showers everyday new types of doles to the general mass. It is usually busy for publicity of its popularity. Strategies are safety and security for next term.

So, the strike might be surely an added advantage to the opponent to assess as well as measure their strength which might be turned to the next election. The incidents of conflict and violence during the strike are part and parcel of success and failure of both sides. The government (against whom strike is called for) claims it as failure because people do not support it. On the other part, the opponent (who is called for) demands it as grand success and the people are with it. But after the day(s), the demand for which the strike is called might be pushed into the cold and forgotten chamber. A follow-up is general no such.

The government (ruling party) knows about the reality of demand, and it should take proper action. But it hardly ever look.

Lastly, the strike may be a political warming up of the opponent. But it is a sorrow for the people for whom it calls because they are ultimately suffering and deprived section. It is also sad to the welfare state-India.

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Frontier
Vol. 52, No. 20, Nov 17 - 23, 2019