NEW DELHI, INDIA

GV Parliament building in New Delhi 0.03
SV Gandhi and other MPs arriving (4 shots) 0.23
GV Workers demonstrating with banners and chanting (3 shots) 0.59
SV Police 1.03
SV Communist leader speaking (Mr. Gupta) (3 shots) 1.27
GV Sikhs in demonstration, chanting and waving placards 1.35
SV Demonstrators jostling with police (2 shots) 1.56
SV Demonstrators onto bus after arrests 2.06

Background: NEW DELHI, INDIA

INTRODUCTION: Thousands of demonstrators staged a rally, and almost the entire Opposition walked out of the lower house of India's Parliament in New Delhi on Monday (17 August) in protest against the government's tough new anti-strike powers. The new session of the Indian parliament also saw another demonstration on the same day, by Sikhs.

SYNOPSIS: The tough new government ordinances give it the power to outlaw strikes in essential services. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her government plan to replace the ordinance by Parliamentary bill this session. The government says the measures are needed to curb inflation and labour unrest.

But as the Parliament met and attempted to debate the ordinances, an estimated 10,000 demonstrators marched near the Parliament building. The trade union protestors denounced the anti-strike powers as "anti- workers, anti-democracy and anti-people".

They chanted that if Mrs. Gandhi wanted peace, she should withdraw the ordinance.

The night before the rally, about 150 demonstrators were arrested while protesting outside Mrs. Gandhi's house. The measures enable the government to ban strikes in essential services, and hold summary trials of strikers and strike organizers.

As the trade unionists held their assembly under the gaze of the police, the Communist Party leader, Interjit Gupta took to the podium to urge the demonstrators to oppose the measures.

As the rally continued, inside Parliament Opposition M.P.'s staged their walkout in protest against the tabling of the ordinance.

The opening of the Parliamentary session also saw a demonstration by members of the Sikh group, Akali Dal.

In demonstrating outside Parliament -- where a meeting of more than five people is prohibited -- the Sikhs courted arrest.

Some arrests were made, but there was little trouble. The Sikhs are members of a religious sect dating to the 15th century. They were demanding a separate homeland.

The Sikhs were also demonstrating against what they say are discriminatory policies of the government.

Source: REUTERS - PREM PRAKASH/SURINDER KAPOOR