"We are realists and we do not want to impose anything, but one thing you must not forget is that you are there because of our support," he said. Training his guns against the economic and foreign policies of the Centre, he alleged the Congress-led government was following the footsteps of its predecessor BJP by succumbing to pressures of American diktats.
"We also support friendship with America, but we should not become their slave," he said and criticised India's vote at the IAEA on the Iranian nuclear issue, claiming it was done under American pressure.
Bardhan said CPI was not against foreign investment, but warned the government that it should not trample profit-making public sectors and open up "sensitive" areas to multinational companies in view of national interest.
"Don't destroy existing public sector units, which has triggered economic development in the country. If you want to bring in foreign investment, do it but it should not be at the cost of our ‘navaratna' PSUs," he said.
He opposed foreign investment in insurance, banking, finance and retail sectors, terming them as life-lines of Indian economy and said "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram must understand that we are not supporting them for implementing such policies."
He also opposed the proposed pensions Bill and the hire and fire policy pursued by private companies. Earlier, addressing the rally, which kick started the 38th annual session of AITUC, its general secretary Gurudas Das Gupta gave a clarion call for workers to unite and "struggle" against the "anti-people" policies of the government.
He called for unity among all trade unions irrespective of their party affiliations for what he called a struggle against "exploitation of workers" by the government, which promotes investment.
Referring to the just-concluded Bihar Assembly elections, he said, "people are impatient, the government must do something immediately to address their grievances. If your work they will support you, otherwise they will ensure your exit.
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