Union leaders use position as ‘launching pads’ to join politics?

Srinagar, Mar 12: Over the years, several trade union leaders in Kashmir have made their way into politics placing a question mark on their credibility and overall stature among people.
Such leaders are being accused of using the trade unions as “launching-pad” for their political interests.
One of such leaders, who wished anonymity, said even though he has no plans of joining politics, his intentions are already questioned by his peers.
“Joining politics by trade union leaders has raised questions upon our credibility. Many believe we too may be raising employees’ issues to make our presence felt in politics,” he said.
Fayaz Ahmad Shabnum, acting president, Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) – an amalgam of various employees’ unions, said it was “one’s personal choice to join politics”.
“Former employees’ leaders are not an exception as people from all fields have joined politics. But I will never join politics and will always fight for the demands of employees,” he claimed.
He counted several examples of former trade union leaders who did not join politics.
“There have been powerful trade union leaders like Majeed Khan, Samprat Prakash, Ashni Sahab, Shafi Lone, Bashir Khan, and Mohammad Sidiq Bhat, who did not join politics. The trade unions have rendered immense sacrifices,” he added.
On February 2, when former EJAC president Abdul Qayoom Wani, announced his joining the Peoples Democratic Party, his former colleagues from the trade union addressed a hurriedly convened press conference where they distanced from Wani’s decision.
The press conference was called after employees took on trade union leaders for using EJAC for “political interests”, a source said.
Qayoom Wani, claimed that he “did not use” his position in EJAC for his political interests.
“Anybody can join politics,” he said.
“I made commitment to the employees. I fought for their rights and did not deceive them. It is my personal decision to join politics. Till I remained in the union, I did no politics with the employees,” he added.
He disagreed that his decision has dented the image of trade union leaders. “People from all fields join politics–be it civil society, business, or trade unions. They can contribute in society in any field but they shall only be sincere in their efforts,” he said..
Earlier, Chairman JKLF, Yasin Malik had flayed the leadership of government employees and trade unions whom he said were “playing a shameful role since 1990s and betraying the people’s cause”.
“Since 90s we have seen almost every leader of government employees starting his career in the name of employee welfare, supporting peoples cause, working for the human rights of Kashmiris. As soon as they get an opportunity, they take no time in switching over their loyalty to Delhi for the lust of power, money and other materialistic gains,” Malik had said in a statement.