New Delhi. During the budget session of the Parliament, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and senior MP Jairam Ramesh clashed with each other in the Rajya Sabha. The tussle came to light during the discussion on the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, when the two publicly disagreed on each other’s points.
debate on the bill
Jairam Ramesh said that the bill is anti-labor, but the opposition is forced to support it. Soon after, Kharge refuted his statement and made it clear that the opposition can never support this bill. Following Kharge’s stance, opposition members walked out of the House.
Labor and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the amendment bill is only a provision to include three old laws back in the code. The new labor laws provide for no more than 48 hours of work a week, mandatory minimum wages and regulations in line with World Labor Organization standards.
Sonia Gandhi supported the left
On Thursday, Congress and Left parties showed solidarity against the labor laws in Parliament. CPI(M) MP John Brittas raised the issue of nationwide general strike at ‘zero hour’, and top Congress leader Sonia Gandhi signed a form in support of him. The move came as a surprise to Sonia Gandhi, who usually does not sign the Zero Hour, and shocked both Congress and Left members.