BRS vows nationwide fight against Centre’s four labour codes

BRS working president KT Rama Rao declared complete opposition to the Centre’s labour codes, warning they would cause widespread exploitation. He said the BRS would block their implementation in Telangana and lead a nationwide fight while accusing BJP and Congress of colluding to pass anti-worker laws

Hyderabad: Declaring total opposition to the Centre’s four new labour codes, BRS working president KT Rama Rao announced that the party would lead a nationwide resistance if the Congress government in Telangana attempts to implement them.

Speaking at a round table conference of trade unions at Telangana Bhavan on the death anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Rama Rao said that blocking the implementation of the labour codes in Telangana would set an example for the entire country.

---

“If we stop these codes here, it will become an example for the nation,” he said, adding, “We will start the fight from here. We will meet the union Labour Minister and members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee in Delhi. Until the implementation of these codes is halted, we will stall the proceedings of the Assembly and Legislative Council.”

Rama Rao accused both the BJP and Congress of colluding to pass anti-worker laws in the absence of BRS representation in the Lok Sabha. “Because BRS has no MPs in Parliament today, BJP and Congress are joining hands to bring such laws,” he said.

Drawing parallels with the recent five-day chaos caused by IndiGo flight cancellations, Rama Rao warned that the new labour codes would spread similar exploitation across all sectors.

“What happened with IndiGo due to monopoly and labour exploitation will happen in every industry if these codes come into force,” he said, noting that airports had turned into bus stations and railway stations because of the Centre’s delayed response. He criticised the one-size-fits-all approach of copying American and European laws under the idea of a global village and free trade agreements without considering India’s social realities.

“This country has the world’s richest billionaires and the poorest of the poor. Ninety two per cent of people still hold white ration cards,” he pointed out.

The BRS leader praised former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s pro-worker policies, citing the Rs 3,500 crore spent over 10 years on Bathukamma sarees that saved Sircilla’s handloom workers.

He questioned the Congress government’s double standards. “Sonia Gandhi opposed these very bills in Delhi. How will the Congress government in Telangana implement them now?” he asked, adding that the BRS-affiliated Bharat Rashtra Trade Union was ready to work with any trade union opposing the codes, regardless of political affiliation.

“There are no elections now. BRTU can work with anyone,” he said.

The round table, attended by representatives of various central trade unions and state-level federations, paid rich tributes to Ambedkar.

The BRS has indicated that it will intensify protests in the coming weeks and is preparing to take the battle to the streets of Telangana and the corridors of power in New Delhi. Former MP B Vinod Kumar slammed the Centre for introducing the codes without consulting workers or trade unions and called for united pressure on the government.