Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: A large number of activists of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held strong protest demonstration opposing anti-worker policies of the Government and courted arrest near Press Club here today.
The CITU workers led by senior CPI (M) leader and MLA, Mohd Yousuf Tarigami assembled at Exhibition Ground here today and started protest demonstration. As they wanted to take out massive protest rally, a strong contingent of police stopped them. The CITU activists including their leader Mr Tarigami courted arrest. Later, packed in police buses they were taken to District Police Lines.
As a part of call given by Central Trade Unions of the country, the CITU and other workers’ organised rally at Press Club Jammu against the policies of deregulation/disinvestment/privatisation and de-nationalisation, raising FDI cap in strategic sectors of industries and services, attack on workers’ rights and pressing for Ten Point Charter of demands etc.
The other issues were curbing price rise, universalisation of public distribution system, job protection, enforcement of Labour laws, social security for unorganised workers, stopping disinvestment in PSUs, minimum wages to be fixed not less than 10,000; pension for all, equal wages and benefits to the contract workers, removal of ceiling of bonus, ESI, Gratuity, Compulsory Registration of Trade Unions within a period of 45 days and ratification of ILO Convention No. 87 and 98. The workers holding red flags, banners and placards in their hands were shouting slogans for the unity and integrity of the toiling masses of the country.
Mr Tarigami while addressing the gathering said that true face of the Modi Government is being exposed by its anti-working class, pro-corporate policies. He alleged that the big corporate had invested heavily to ensure victory of the BJP in the last Parliamentary elections and now it is time for the Modi Government to pay them rich dividends on their investments, that is why the Government has intensified its offensive/attacks on working class such as attempts to amend Labour laws to give it a pro-corporate tilt. He said the Government in an undemocratic manner brought ordinance again in respect of auction of coal blocks for commercial purposes thus paving way for de nationalisation of coal sector, adding that the Government has also repromulgated the ordinance increasing the FDI limit to 49% in insurance sector, land acquisition law has also been changed through an ordinance to acquire the land for corporate without the consent of the concerned farmers, the Government has made its intentions clear to bring FDI to Railways, Defence and other strategic sectors, the disinvestment of public sector is continuing with full speed and vigour.
Senior CTU leaders Om Parkash and Sham Parsad Kesar also spoke on the occasion.
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