Over one lakh protests are to take place on December 30, 2020 by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) to show continued support to farmers in their movement against the three anti-farmer Acts forcibly passed by the central government.
During protests, workers will demand the repeal of the three farm laws – the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act – the four labour codes, the Electricity Bill 2020 and the prevention of privatization of public sector.
Protesters will also decry policies to intensify workers’ struggle and demand relief to the poor, unorganised sector workers, agricultural workers through cash transfer of Rs. 7,500 per month, 10 kg free food grains per person per month to all needy, expansion of employment guarantee, universal free health, social security for all and other basic demands of the working people such as enhanced minimum wage, decent employment.
These protests will occur while farmer leaders meet Central government officials.
In addition to this national call for action, the CITU has called for a ‘Jail Bharo’ on January 8, 2021 with nationwide gherao of District Collectorates on the appointed day or 24 hours earlier.
“CITU and the entire working-class movement have been supporting the farmers’ protests against the three farm ordinances, before the Bills were passed in Parliament violating all Parliamentary procedures and norms. Repeal of the three Farm Acts was one of the major demands of the joint trade union movement on its general strike on November 26,” said CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen in a press release.
Sen said CITU committees across the country have been supporting all calls of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, through their physical participation whether it was the call for Bharat Bandh on December 8 or protests in front of toll gates, Reliance malls and petrol pumps.
The workers Union asserted that the working class will stand by its peasant brothers and sisters in their struggle against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s anti-farmer, anti-worker and anti-national policies that benefit big corporates like Ambani and Adani.
“CITU appeals to the entire working class to stand in active solidarity with the peasants and take the joint struggles of the workers and peasants to new heights of resistance and defiance and force a change in the policies that benefit a few corporates towards those that benefit the mass of the people,” he said.
Reports of local-level workers answering the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) call for nationwide protests began trickling in early morning on December 30, 2020.
Protesters demand:
the prevention of privatisation of public sector
relief to the poor, unorganised sector workers, agricultural workers through cash transfer of Rs. 7,500 per month
10 kg free food grains per person per month
expansion of employment guarantee, universal free health, social security
enhanced minimum wage
decent employment
Regions like Chhattisgarh gave an enthusiastic response to the call by protesting a day earlier.
CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen told Sabrang India that units in Vishakapatnam’s industrial area and the Ghazipur border had already mobilised by afternoon.
“Parts of Orissa and Koli areas where CITU units are established are gearing up for more protests today. Most demonstrations will begin around 1 PM or 2 PM,” he said.
Sen further emphasised that Wednesday’s protests will be led by the grassroot workers and State officials to show the people’s solidarity with farmers against pro-corporate policies.
Farmer leaders in Delhi will meet with Union government ministers at 2 PM in the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Farmers have stressed that the meeting should focus on the four agenda points of:
Modalities to be adopted to repeal the three agricultural laws
Procedure and provision for legal guarantee, procurement of profitable MSP for farmers and agricultural commodities
Amendments to the “Commission Ordinance for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas, 2020” to exclude farmers from the penal provisions
Procedure for withdrawal of draft ‘Electricity Amendment Bill 2020’ to protect farmers.
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