Image Courtesy:economictimes.indiatimes.com
Well-known in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the All India People’s Front (AIPF-R) voiced their support for the two-day all-India General Strike by trade unions, reported Yug Jagran on March 26, 2022.
Already, Central Trade Unions (CTUs) have begun preparations for the strikes on March 28 and March 29 with virtual conferences with local-level leaders and unions. Farmers body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) also voiced its solidarity and promised that farmers will also protest on those days. By Saturday, IPF President and former IG S. R. Darapuri told the press that his party too will join the chorus of solidarity. Party units will organize programmes for workers, said Yug Jagran.
Largely, the strike will condemn the government’s recent “pro-corporate” policies like the four labour codes that propose to increase working hours to 12 hours among other things, increasing inflation, privatization of PSUs and similar laws. For example, even farmers condemned the Electricity Amendment Bill 2021 that increases privatisation in the power sector and does away with subsidies. This negatively affects farmers who provide food for the whole country and only benefits corporations. Similarly, the sale of the banking sector, railways and insurance companies is another concern of workers.
These moves are especially concerning for the workers in post-pandemic times when the employment crisis is worsening and experts are discussing a possible economic crisis in some parts of the country.
Regarding the central government, Darapuri told Yug Jagran that the Modi-led government has let out a “flood of attacks” against the public after Assembly elections. He spoke about LPG prices that have increased by ₹ 50. The wholesale price of diesel has also increased by ₹ 25 and the retail price of petrol and diesel continues to go up. Similarly, the interest rates of workers’ EPF were recently reduced. The move was criticised by many because it affects the savings made by workers soon to retire.
During the last virtual conference on March 24, leaders voiced confidence of widespread response. Stressing that protests are integral to the constitutional spirit, unions from various states called upon the general public to join protests.
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