The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) on Tuesday jointly staged a sit-in demonstration here in protest against the BJP-led Central Government’s anti-farmer and anti-labour policies.
Both the organisations demanded implementation of labour Acts for the welfare of the labours.
The demonstration was staged in front of the Assistant Labour Commissioner’s office at Ulubari in Guwahati to pressurise the Government over their 12-point charter of demands.
Also read: Assam: CITU, AIKS protest against government’s anti-farmer policy
Lashing out at the BJP-led coalition Government at the Centre and the State, CITU Assam wing general secretary Tapan Sarma questioned, “Where is Prime Minister Modi’s achhe din? Is it this Government’s ache din to act against the interests of the labours and the farmers of the country?”
“This Government has been trying to implement a ‘fixed term employment’ system in the country which will harm the interests of millions of labours across the country. This system, if implemented, would pose a threat to the security of the labours,” Sarma said.
Bringing allegations against the BJP-led Government, Sarma said, “The present Government has been working for the interests of the capitalists. It does not bother about the lower section of the society.”
Sarma also slammed the Government for not implementing minimum wage for the labours.
“We demand the Government to set an amount of Rs 18,000 as minimum wage for the unskilled workers of the country,” Sarma said.
The protestors also demanded that the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2017 be revoked for the welfare of the labours.
The CITU Assam wing general secretary also announced that a protest programme would be held on September 5 this year in the national capital against the BJP-led Central Government’s anti-farmer and anti-labour policy.
Meanwhile, AIKS Assam wing general secretary Tiken Das urged the Central Government not to privatise the oil fields of the State. He also urged the Government to fix a proper cost of crops on the basis of Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations.
Later, the protestors submitted a memorandum stating their demands to the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Guwahati.
A large number of people from North Guwahati also joined the protest.