KTR slams Centre’s labour policies, vows fight against new labour codes
Hyderabad: BRS Working President K. Tarakarama Rao (KTR) sharply criticised the Centre’s proposed labour reforms. He declared that the party would lead a concerted resistance against the implementation of new labour codes. Speaking at a roundtable with trade union leaders held at Telangana Bhavan, KTR said the discussions there were more meaningful than recent sessions of Parliament and the Assembly.
Marking the death anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, he said the Constitution authored by Ambedkar had made Telangana’s formation possible. He added that the BRS paid its respects to his legacy. KTR denounced what he described as a blind import of Western economic models into India. He warned that free trade agreements and unchecked reforms without local context could endanger social stability.
He pointed out that India has both some of the richest individuals in the world and widespread poverty. Notably, 92% of the population still holds white ration cards. He cited the Indigo Airlines crisis—where over 1,000 flights were cancelled in five days—as a direct consequence of market monopolies and labour exploitation. Such issues are enabled by the Centre’s infrastructure privatisation policies.
BRS to block labour code rollout in Telangana
KTR pledged that the BRS and its affiliated labour union BRTU would collaborate with any trade union opposing the new labour codes. He said there were no elections currently. Therefore, alliances could be built freely to resist these reforms.
He warned that if the Centre went ahead with the labour code implementation, disruptions similar to the Indigo fiasco could spill over into other sectors. KTR urged unions to start a movement from Telangana. He stated that preventing the rollout in the state could set an example for the rest of the country.
Calling on the Congress-led state government, KTR questioned how it could implement in Telangana the same bills that Congress opposed in Delhi. He announced that BRS leaders would meet with the Union Labour Minister and Parliament’s Standing Committee members to voice opposition. He added that the party would disrupt Assembly and Council proceedings until the Centre withdraws the new labour codes.
KTR also proposed holding the next roundtable meeting in Warangal to continue organising resistance.
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