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SALIKRAM JAMKATTEL
Your Union´s senior Vice-chairman Bajgain has said he will form a parallel trade union. What is your view in this regard?
We are trying to resolve the differences through discussions. The problem isn´t as big as has been portrayed by the media.
The Bajgain faction has accused you of being a new feudal leader and questioned your ability to lead the trade union. What do you have to say on the allegations?
You better ask this question to them. If you ask me, the problem is not personal but political. The problem in the trade union is the reflection of the ideological conflict in the party.
The Bajgain faction say that they formed a parallel trade union after you did not give them space. In this context, how the problem could be solved?
We have never neglected them.
But they said you never invite them to discuss problems.
We have been meeting occasionally.
Another allegation is that you sent ´goons´ to beat up their supporters, loot goods and set things on fire at Khanna Garment in Lalitpur.
No, that is a false allegation. We neither beat up anyone nor burnt anything.
But your rival faction have accused your men of beating Tika Khadka and Rama Lama, who had delivered recently, at Khanna garment on Saturday.
No, that´s not right.
But they have claimed that the two women were beaten up by your ´goons´?
I have already said that is not true.
Similarly, you have been accused of joining hands with employers like Chappal Karkhana, Pepsi Cola and many security companies who have sacked over 150 workers.
I have no idea who were sacked from where.
You said the problem is political. If everything is alright within the trade union, why did they form a parallel union?
Discussions are under way to solve the problem.
Reportedly, hundreds of complaints have been registered against you in the party headquarter accusing you of corruption, establishing monopoly in the trade union, extortion and joining hands with employers to sack employees.
I´m not aware of such complaints against me. Nothing has come up so far during the meetings I have had with Chairman [Pushpa Kamal Dahal] and [the party´s] office bearers. We have had several meetings with the dissident comrades as well. If there were any complaints against me they could have cropped up during the meetings.
How are you going to deal with the formation of the parallel trade union in Lalitpur?
We don´t see it as a parallel union.
Your rivals have claimed forming the parallel trade union became imperative as you tried to turn the trade union into an organization of robbers?
I don´t care what they think of me and I don´t want to comment on others´ false claims. As the chariman of the union, I can say that the problem in the trade union is the reflection of what is going on in the party. The problem [internal conflict] has permeated even in the sister organizations. The problem within the union has persisted because party leadership has not been able to pay attention to it due to the present political situation.
BADRI BAJAGAIN
Now that the problem in the trade union has surfaced, has the party leadership taken any initiative to resolve it?
We are making preparations to announce a parallel union and the party is aware of the problems.
But Jamkattel has said that the conflict in the trade union is political one and a reflection of the party´s internal problem?
I don´t want to accuse anybody. We were hopeful that the problem would be resolved through negotiations. But they have started beating up our supporters and resorted to robbery. Hundreds of our comrades have been victimized -- they have been either beaten up or sacked. The arguments they have been floating is just an attempt to cover up their misdeeds.
Chairman Jamkattel claimed that he never joined hands with employers to sack any worker?
The demands of the workers and comrades were not met because Jamkattel joined hands with the owners. I don´t want to take the names of the sacked workers who are in the streets now.
You have said that hundreds of workers are sacked. Do you have actual data and names to support your claim?
We have a list that we can disclose if necessary. 12 workers from Chappal Karkhana, 2 from Shrestha Tailoring, 4 from Pepsi Cola and hundreds others from various security companies were sacked. He is no longer fit to be the leader of workers as he has been working against them and showing feudal inclinations lately.
Jamkattel claimed that the two women, Tika Khadka and Rama Lama, who had recently delivered, were not beaten by his supporters.
You can ask Khadka and Lama whether they had been beaten up or not. They were kicked out form Khanna garment and beaten up.
Has party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal taken any initiative to resolve the conflict?
The problem intensified and reached to this stage as the party leadership continued to remain indifferent. The leadership is cognizant of all the problems.
Your faction has already told the party that Jamkattel cannot lead the trade union. If the party retains him as the chairman, will it be acceptable to you?
It is our demand that he should be removed. As party cadres, however, we will respect any decision taken by the party. We are hopeful that the party will take decision in favor of the workers.
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