Various trade unions and workers’ organisations across the country organized a rally and demonstration in front of the Parliament on December 20th against the capitalist policies of the UPA government. This was an important programme in the context of the government’s economic policies and attacks on the working class.
Various trade unions and workers’ organisations across the country organized a rally and demonstration in front of the Parliament on December 20th against the capitalist policies of the UPA government. This was an important programme in the context of the government’s economic policies and attacks on the working class. Tens of thousands of workers from the various sectors of the economy and the different states took part in this rally.
This rally reflected the anger of the working class against the policies of the government.
Parliament street echoed with the slogans of “Down with the anti-worker anti-peasant UPA government”, “Down with exposure of Pension Fund to market volatility”, “Stop the privatization of public assets” along with “Control inflation”, Implement minimum wages of Rs.10000/month” and “Implement Labour laws”.
While attacking the present situation and policies, the workers also raised slogans like “Both Congress and BJP serve the bourgeoisie”, “This is not people’s rule; it is the rule of monopoly capitalists, “FDI in retail is anti-people; Existing middlemen–controlled trade is also anti-people; Nationalized trade, under people’s control will be in people’s interest”! “Those who produce the wealth for the country must be her masters”, “An attack on one is an attack on all”, “Come, let us unite around the independent programme of the working class”.
Preceding this rally, workers protested and courted arrest in their different states and districts on 18th & 19th December in support of their demands.
Addressing the protesting workers, leaders condemned the UPA government’s economic policies and growing attacks on the working class. They pointed out that both the Congress and BJP were committed to policy reforms in the interest of the monopoly capitalists. They said that notwithstanding the workers belonged to different trade unions, it is necessary to unite in defence of their rights, for their just demands and to face the attacks of the capitalists. We have to strengthen our unity and rise above narrow party politics.
Participating organisations gave the call for a two-day demonstration against the government’s capitalist policies.
Various independent federations of workers also participated in the rally alongside Mazdoor Ekta Committee, BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, UTUC, TUCC.