Report by a correspondent of Mazdoor Ekta Committee
Workers and farmers all across the country enthusiastically participated in a three day Mahapadav during November 26-28.
The call for the Mahapadav was given at a joint convention of Central trade unions and farmers organisations, organised under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, held in New Delhi on August 24, 2023. A common charter of demands of workers and farmers was adopted at the Convention, which also announced a plan of action to popularise this charter amongst the broad masses of workers and farmers and to agitate for these demands.
In different state capitals of the country, workers and farmers organised day long meetings in front of the office of the Governor.
In New Delhi, hundreds of workers and farmers militantly participated in day long protests in front of the Lt Governor’s office on November 26 and November 27.
Speakers condemned the attacks on the livelihood and rights of workers, farmers and broad masses of working people. They condemned the anti worker, anti-social program of privatisation of railways, ports and docks, electricity, airports, highways, banking, ordnance factories, etc.
They expressed their determination to continue the struggle for the common charter of demands. These include the repeal of the four anti worker labour codes, Social Security for all, withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022, ending contractualisation of labour, and a halt to privatisation of public sector companies. They demanded that the Central government ensure the guaranteed procurement by the state of all agricultural produce at a remunerative price.
The trade unions and farmers’ organisations have also demanded that gig workers, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, and other scheme workers be recognised as workers.
Activists of the CITU, AITUC, Mazdoor Ekta Committee, AIUTUC, HMS, TUCC, SEWA, INTUC, LPF, UTUC, All India Kisan Sabha, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait) and other organisations enthusiastically participated in the Mahapadav in Delhi. The Mahapadav in Delhi concluded with a day-long protest near Parliament on November 28.
Farmers and workers organisations organised massive mahapadavs at two venues in Chandigarh. Thousands of farmers came from all over Punjab and Haryana in their trolleys to participate in these programs. Farmers and workers from Punjab gathered at the Mohali border with Chandigarh. Farmers and workers from Haryana gathered at the Panchkula border with Chandigarh.
Thousands of farmers and workers enthusiastically participated in the three day mahapadav organised in Lucknow.
On 26th and 27th of November, Workers and Peasants Mass Protest was held in Tamilnadu in Chennai at Egmore – Rajarathnam Stadium. Peasants from different districts of the state, and workers belonging to manufacturing industry, automobile industry workers, railway workers, Banking and Insurance sector workers, defense employees, Metro transport workers, power generation and distribution workers, IT and ITES employees, unorganized workers, women workers of various sectors, agricultural workers, etc. participated in large numbers. Leaders of many Trade Unions, federations and peasants’ organizations attended the protest and addressed the protestors. Mazdoor Ekta Committee participated vigorously in the mass protest.
Big protest rallies were held in Kerala, in Patna in Bihar and in five cities in Assam including Guwahati.
On the 28th of November, farmers and workers organisations organised a big rally in Kolkata. On the same day rallies were organised in Mumbai and Puducherry.
Below are scenes of the Mahapadav in various cities of India.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
