Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: Over 200 workers including members of Central Indian Trade Unions (CITU) courted arrest after they took out a massive protest rally in support of their demands in the winter capital city here today.
State president of the CITU and MLA Mohd Yousuf Tarigami was leading the protest. This protest demonstration and court arrest, was part of countrywide Jail-Bharo call given by All India Centre of India Trade Unions. The workers from various affiliated unions like ASHA, Anganwadi, Mid Day Meals, Railway Loading and Unloading, Bhartayia Coal Khan Mazdoor Union, Pahari Railway Workers, Hydro Power Project Workers Unions, Four Lane Highway Workers Union etc on the joint call marched to the Civil Secretariat. They were however, stopped at Indira Chowk and not allowed to move further by strong contingent of Police force. More than 200 CITU workers including Mr Tarigami courted arrest at this point. They were taken to DPL Gandhinagar and later freed in the afternoon.
A large number of workers under the banner of CITU (J&K) assembled at Bikram Chowk at around 11.30 am. The noted communist leader and MLA from Kashmir M Y Tarigami was leading. The workers were carrying banners, red flags and placards in their hands depicting their demands. They were also shouting slogans in support of their demands. In Delhi the protest march was taken towards Parliament.
This one day protest programme was held in support of workers’ ten main demands including curbing of price rise, universalisation of public distribution system, job protection, enforcement of Labour laws, social security for unorganized sector workers, stoppage of disinvestments in PSUs, minimum wages, pension for all, equal wages and benefits to the contract workers, ensuring right to organization and collective bargaining, removal of ceiling of bonus , ESI, Gratuity etc.
Mr Tarigami while addressing rally said that CITU has taken a pioneering role in opposing the neo-liberal policies and from the last two decades discontent about these policies has grown.
He demanded complete stoppage of disinvestments of share in profit making State and Central PSUs. Senior CITU leaders Sham Parasd Kesar and Om Parkash also addressed the rally.
Follow our WhatsApp channel