Criticise governments atrocities on farmers at Shambhu border, Demand Modi’s resignation after Supreme Court verdict on Electoral Bonds
Ludhiana (Rajkumar Sathi). Amid the resounding slogans of Mazdoor Kisan Ekta, a rally was held here today at Bus Stand Ludhiana on the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and the Central Trade Unions Sectoral Federations/Associations for nationwide strike and Bharat Bandh. This call has been given against the repressive policies of the Modi government and its turning away from the commitment given while withdrawing the three Agricultural Bills. After the rally thousands of workers, employees and people from other sections of the society marched to the Mini Secretariat. Then a rally was held at the Mini Secretariat which was addressed by the leaders of various organizations including AITUC, CITU, CTU and INTUC. The speakers condemned the Modi government’s repression on the farmers at the Shambhu border and throwing of tear gas shells with Drones and firing plastic pellets on the peacefully protesting farmers.
Several of them have been injured as a result of the repression. This is against the constitutional provisions of our country which guarantees the freedom of expression and protest to all the citizens. The government has completely turned away from fulfilling the commitment on the farmers demands after the Prime Minister Narendera Modi withdrew three Agriculture Bills. The speakers at the rallies blamed that laws are being made constantly against the workers and the government is all out to serve the corporate sector. Whereas the poor people are being denied right to livelihood and jobs and are suffering under the exorbitant price rise, the corporate sector has been given ample concessions in the form of tax reduction declaring their unpaid loans as NPA and these are being waived off. Against this, workers, employees, farmers, students, youth, women, small and medium entrepreneurs, small shopkeepers and others have sounded the bugle. Today’s action in which the farmers have observed Band in every village and the workers have gone on strike across the country is a reflection of the growing resentment among the people. Having failed on all fronts the government is resorting to dangerous game of splitting the society on communal lines and engineering communal riots to garner votes. The Supreme Court verdict on Electoral Bonds has completely exposed that this is the most corrupt government of the on-going period. The protesters emphasized the following major demands, among others:
- Provide statutory guarantee and purchase guarantee as per the formula of MSP @ C2+50% for farmers produce, Stop privatization of public sector enterprises, Withdraw four labor codes that are anti-worker and anti-employee, Withdraw the provisional recruitment of Agni Veers under the Agnipath scheme in the army and make permanent recruitment as before, Reject the pro-rich and anti-people New Education Policy 2020, Repeal the new pension scheme, restore the old pension scheme, Bring all group construction workers under ESI scheme for free health facility, Withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Don’t install a pre-paid smart meter, Make minimum wage for workers Rs.26000/- per month, Guarantee 200 days of work per year and Rs.700/- per diem under MGNREGA, Guarantee food security and expand the public distribution system, Make a memorial at Singhu border for all martyred farmers, give compensation and rehabilitate their families, withdraw all pending cases, Sack and prosecute Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Tenny. The protestors said that it has become very important to prevent the Modi-led BJP government from coming back to power in 2024, otherwise the policy of not only the rights of farmers, anti-labourers and the corporate sector will continue in this country but also the name of religion in the society. By creating divisions, the unity, integrity and constitution of our country will be threatened. Those who addressed the rally include Comrades Bant Singh Brar – President AITUC Punjab, Mangat Ram Pasla – Vice President CTU, Subhash Rani, D P Maur, M S Bhatia, Vijay Kumar, Jagdish Chand, Joginder Ram, Sukhwinder Singh Lotey, Chamkaur Singh, Dr Rajinder Pal Singh Aulukh, Dr Arun Mitra and others.
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