Articles by B M

such threats and repression?
Predictably again, the INTUC which calls itself a trade union body has raised no protest against the Ordinance; indeed, some of its affiliates are demonstrating support to it, in front of the PM's house in ways reminiscent of the Emergency. All non-INTUC unions have vehemently condemned the Ordinance. The real test, however, will come when they decide what they are going to do about it. After the june 4 Bombay Conference of non-TNTUC trade union organisations, some efforts seem to be under way to launch a joint agitation on the more pressing labour issues and demands. Even before the Rational Campaign Committee set up by the June 4 Conference has had time to draw up its full campaign plans, the Ordinance has come as a challenge to it. But the Campaign Committee will be well advised to refuse to beprovkedat the Centre. The present Union and stampeded into any premature and precipitate conflict on the issue of the Ordinance, It will be wiser for it to draw up its own campaign plans regardless of the Ordinance and let the government show its hand as to how it proposes to use its newly-assumed repressive powers. At the same time, it should alert its constituents to be in readiness to resort to resolute direct action if and when the government does in fact seek to suppress legitimate struggles of workers. Too often in the past similar joint trade union initiatives have turned out to be mere posturing. The Ordinance may yet turn out to be a boon to workers if under its threat non-INTUC trade unions moderate their mutual rivalries and build a more honest and durable joint front for action.

Oil Companies Turn the Screw B M WHEN the Oil ami Natural Gas Com- mission drilled the first well in the Godavari basin and struck oil early in 1980, the then Petroleum and Chemicals Minister, Virendra Patil, told Parliament amidst much cheering that a second Bombay High had been discovered. Since then, however, the ONGC hits been having a rough time with its drilling of the Godavari basin. This is not unusual. Finding oil is a difficult and exacting job and no oilman will be unduly put out on this score. The drilling of the second well in the basin has met with specially difficult conditions. Strong winds and waves and other conditions have resulted in several mishaps. Some equipment has been lost and work held up. This, however, does not mean that prospects of finding a rich oilfield under the basin have diminished in any way. It is still considered a highly promising structure and there can be no question that the effort to find oil there should be slackened, much less given up. On the contrary the effort has to be intensified with better technology, better equipment and more expertise.

Resisting Foreign Intrusion into Indian Oil B M THE grandiose plans of the Petroleum Minister, P C Sethi, to 'open up India to the international oil companies in a frantic bid to discover oil, on-shore and off-shore, seem to be going awry. The OPEC challenge has not apparently softened up the notorious seven sisters of the world oil business. They remain as exacting bargainers as ever. They insist on solid and substantial gains for themselves before they choose to make any deal. It is naive of P C Sethi and the men in his ministry to be taken by surprise or to be dismayed at the oil companies' close-fisted response to the warm invitations handed out to them for exploration of prospective on-shore and off-shore structures.

NEW DELHI The Import-Export Wallahs B M THE annual announcement of import- export policy by the Union Commerce Ministry has become over the years a well-rehearsed ritual, performed with due ceremony and solemnity. Its impact on the overall volume, composition, and direction of India's foreign trade is minimal. It does not touch more than a quarter of the country's imports. As for exports, the determining factor is their competitiveness in foreign markets and no amount of control and licensing can help matters though, of course, exports of certain selected items may be banned on the grounds that these are needed in the home market. The Commerce Ministry, too, seems satisfied with making a spectacle of shifting certain items from one list to another through an elaborately contrived licensing and control regimen.

between Indira Gandhi and her crities. Indira Gandhi is being attacked on two totally untenable grounds. Contrary to the belief of many opposition politicians, she has not committed India to unqualified support of the Soviet military presence in Afghanistan. Secondly, she seems to he under attack for not taking Zla's friendly overtures seriously. There atrain Zia and his fundamentalist junta will prove her right The Morarji Desais and Vajpayees of the world and our enthusiastic opponents of Soviet hegemonisrn will be proven wrong by Zia and his junta. The simple fact of GOINGS on in New Delhi are becoming my re and more intriguing. The opposition has scored a point, by its own kisan rally. But rallies, small and big, are becoming a daily occurrence