Farmers Movement Archive

Nationwide strike call evokes strong response in district

Rallies and protests were held at various places in the city on Thursday in response to a nationwide strike call given by various trade unions to protest the ‘anti-worker’ and ‘anti-people’ policies of the Centre. Employees of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and staff of various industries and banks as well as workers from the organised and unorganised sectors participated in the strike. Central trade unions, affiliated to AITUC, CITU, IFTU, INTUC and AICTU, participated in the rally that was organised from the DRM’s Office at Dondaparthi to Asilmetta. Leaders and activists of CPI and CPI(M) also participated in the protests. A large number of workers took part in protests held at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Gajuwaka, industrial belt, Pendurthi and other areas despite a continuous drizzle. CPI State assistant secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy alleged that the NDA government has converted the labour laws, which were achieved by workers after several struggles, into four codes to deprive workers of their rights, while benefiting corporate groups. Injustice was also being done to small and marginal farmers through the introduction of farm bills, he alleged. CPI(M) State Secretariat member Ch. Narasinga Rao alleged that the Centre was responsible for the suffering of eight crore migrant labourers in the country, who were forced to walk hundreds of kilometres to their homes earlier this year. He warned the Centre that it would be taught a lesson by the people if it fails to take corrective action. He alleged that the lopsided policies of the Centre were reverting the progress of the nation.

The Hindu

2020-11-27

VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH