Members of the All India Central Trade Union Council (AICCTU) protested at Jantar Mantar today under the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the central government policies. The ‘Bharat Bandh’ has been called by ten Central Trade Unions (CTU). Its effect is being seen from Delhi to Kerala. The Congress has also supported this.
In Delhi-NCR, many trade unions have demonstrated on the streets, while in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, trade union workers are on the streets.
TMC leaders and members of trade union clashed
On Wednesday, there was a clash between members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and trade union leaders over ‘Bharat Bandh’ in Naxalbari.
Trade unions of leftist parties in West Bengal have organized ‘Bharat Bandh’ and alleged that the central government is carrying forward economic reforms that weaken the rights of workers.
Protesters clashed with police in Kolkata
There was a verbal confrontation between Kolkata police personnel and members of trade unions of the Left parties amid protests of ‘Bharat Bandh’ in Kolkata.
During the protests, the workers raised slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad” as part of their movement against the Center’s economic policies and burnt tires, which they allege that these policies are anti -labor.
The impact of bandh also showed in Odisha
In Odisha, members of the Khoradha district unit of the Indian Trade Union Center (CITU) blocked the national highway in Bhubaneswar to support ‘Bharat Bandh’. The opposition Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have supported the protests of trade unions.
The protesters performed at various places and blocked several roads including national highways in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Balasore, Bolganar and Sambalpur.
The fuel station in Bhubaneswar remained closed as members of the trade union staged a sit -in in front of petrol pumps. Although offices and educational institutions are normally functioning in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and some other cities.
Kerala also shown completely closed!
In Kerala, shops and shopping malls remained closed in Kottayam in support of ‘Bharat Bandh’ convened by 10 central trade unions. Shops, offices and schools remained closed in the state, public vehicles were absent from roads and roads remained deserted.
After the strike started from midnight on Tuesday, there is an atmosphere of complete bandh in cities, towns and villages in the CPI -M -ruled southern state. Only private vehicles were seen running on the roads of the state and in many places people were stranded at bus stands and railway stations.
In many such areas, policemen came to help him and brought them to their destinations including hospitals. Protesters associated with various trade unions took out a march raising slogans against the central government across the state and stopped the buses and autos trying to run.
The agitators disrupted the service of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses in Kochi and Kollam in the morning and argued with its employees.
The situation in Puducherry is almost closed like
Private buses, autos and tempo were absent from roads in Puducherry on Wednesday due to a nationwide strike called by 10 trade unions to protest against the policies of the central government including four new labor codes.
A source said that the management of private schools has declared a holiday as a precaution. Shops, establishments, vegetables and fish markets remained closed.
Rajedi supports Bharat Bandh in Bihar
Members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) student wing, supporting the ‘Bharat Bandh’ convened by a joint platform of 10 central trade unions and their colleagues blocked the rail tracks at Jehanabad railway station in Bihar.
Under the ‘bandh’, sectors such as state -run public transport, government offices, public sector units, banking and insurance services, postal operations, coal mining and industrial production are likely to be affected.
Why was Bharat Bandh announced?
Trade unions have alleged that the central government is implementing reforms that weaken the rights of workers.
In the demands of the unions, eliminating the four labor codes, contracting, privatization of public sector undertakings, raising minimum wages to Rs 26,000 per month, as well as the demand of farmer organizations that the C2 Plus 50 percent formula of Swaminathan Commission for crops should be given on the basis of formula and loan waiver for farmers.
Among the participating organizations, Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Indian Trade Union Center (CITU), All India Joint Trade Union Center (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Center (TUUCC), Self-Nonant Women’s Association (Service), All India Trade Union Council (AICCTU) (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).
In a joint statement, the Union Forum criticized the government for not organizing the annual labor conference for the last decade.
He also opposed the implementation of the four labor codes passed in Parliament, and alleged that the objective of the government is to weaken collective bargaining, weaken union activities and benefit employers in the name of ‘ease of doing business’.
The trade union also criticized the government’s economic policies and said that these have led to unemployment, inflation in the prices of essential commodities, declining wages, education, health and social sector expenditure on basic civil facilities.
It said, “For the last 10 years, the government has not been organizing the Indian labor conference and is constantly taking decisions against the interests of the workers. The purpose of the efforts to implement four labor code is to weaken collective bargaining, paralyzed union activities and benefit the employers in the name of ‘ease of doing business’. Unemployment is increasing due to the government’s economic policies, wages are increasing due to the government’s economic policies. Social sector expenditure on education, health and basic citizen facilities is decreasing. “
The statement said, “This is increasing inequality and misery for the poor, low income groups and even middle class.”
Unions are demanding recruitment to sanctioned posts, increase in working days and wages of MNREGA through ‘Bharat Bandh’.
The joint statement said, “We are demanding that the government solve the problem of unemployment, recruit to the approved posts, create more employment, increase the workdays and wages of MNREGA and implement the same law for urban areas. But instead, the government is engaged in implementing the ELI scheme, which is available only to the owners.”
