On the second day of the protest, state revenue minister Krishna Bhairey Gowda, visited the Maha Dharani on behalf of the state government, and assured the protesters, “We will arrange a detailed meeting soon after the assembly session to discuss the 18 demands put forward by the Samyukta Horata Karnataka (United Struggle Karnataka.) I will take the responsibility of arranging this,” he promised. Thereafter, political secretary of the Chief Minister, Nazir Ahmed, visited the Maha Dharna on November 28 on behalf of the Chief Minister, and delivered a letter from the chief minister’s office.

In the letter sent by the Chief Minister, it has been mentioned that a meeting has been scheduled at the Chief Minister’s home office, Krishna, on December 19 to thoroughly discuss the demands of the struggle. This letter was welcomed in the resolution passed at the protest. However, concerns that further postponement of such meetings would not be acceptable, were also expressed in the resolution.

The strongly worded resolution specifically addressed the powers that be and stated that while the protesters and people’s movements “have welcomed the implementation of Anna Bhagya, Vidyut Bhagya and Stri Bhagya as promised by the Congress government as soon as it came to power,” clearly this is not what the people had demanded.

“What people are asking for is not free systems, but an increase in their incomes, reduction in expenditures, security of life, change in governance and freedom to protest. But the state government is not paying any attention to bring improvement in this regard, instead it is distancing itself from the people and joining the ivory tower, floating in its own stupor, suppressing the people’s right to protest. This Maha Dharani (grand protest) strongly condemns this behaviour of the state government.”

“Six months after the state government came to power [as promised in its manifesto and before all of us] the government has not YET withdrawn the 4 major anti-people laws brought in by previous BJP government. The Land Reforms Amendment Act, the APMC Act, the Cattle Act, the Acts which raised the working hours of workers from 8 am to 12 pm are still in force.” These are among the strongly worded demands reiterated in the resolution passed on November 28, the last day of the three day protest.

Farmers, workers and people’s organisations had organised this show of strength in the form of a Maha Dharani held in Bengaluru on 26, 27, and 28 of November at Freedom Park. Samyuktha Horata was/is a joint call by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) and Janashakthi to forge together a joint front of farmers, workers, Dalits, youth and women’s organisations, expanding the protest to other segments of the population – a historical moment of unity. Badagalapura Nagendra (SKM), H.R. Basavarajappa, Bayyareddy (Samyuktha Horata), Varalakshmi (JCTU) and Noor Sridhar (Janashakthi) lead this demonstration of deep dissatisfaction. Bayyareddi, Convenor of Samyuktha Horta stated, “We don’t have any expectations from Central government, they sold the toiling people’s interest to the Corporates….only way left is to remove them from the power…we are going to take a call on it in this struggle.”

The Congress Party after coming to power in the state in May this year has still to deliver on its campaign promises. The dissatisfaction with the Siddaramaiah and DK Shivkumar Government comes after several failed attempts to meet with and address the state government’s inaction. Kumar Samathala of Land & Housing Deprived People’s Struggle Committee said,” Governments are changing, but our life is not. Even after Congress came to power there has been no change in attitude. They have not yet called for a proper sitting to discuss the issue.”

The resolution passed on November 28, 2023 is unequivocal. “We, the farmers, workers, Dalits, minorities, backward people, common people of this state, who were angry with the corruption, mismanagement and hate politics of the BJP government, taught them a lesson and removed them from power. Our efforts are instrumental in bringing the Congress party to power. But it is regrettable and tragic that after coming to power, the Congress party is ignoring the cries of the people who brought it to power.”

Apart from the repealment of anti-people laws, the resolution states that “Bagar Hukum farmers, victims of land acquisition, homeless people, those who grow various crops and fail to sell them for fair price, unorganized and contract workers working under various departments, Dalit – backward – minority communities, women – sexual minorities are knocking at your door again and again but you do not seem to respond. You are not making any effort to thoroughly discuss the issues and find solutions. This Maha Dharna strongly condemns the indifferent attitude of the state government towards the rights of the people.”

Finally, “If a special high level meeting is held and the government does not come up with remedial measures as expected, this Maha Dharani will decide to launch an indefinite struggle across the state.”

Related:

Mahapadav/Samyuktha Horata: A Kisan-Mazdoor Historical Unity

SKM-CTU Call for a countrywide united worker-peasant struggle for both regime change and policy change

The post Maha Dharani: A warning to Congress-led Karnataka government, deliver on poll promises or face people appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On Monday, November 27, at 11 am, a letter with demands was delivered to the Governor and the Chief Minister through the police officials. The collective demand on both present themselves in the protest spot and respond to the same. All day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, the atmosphere at the mega protest was electric with speeches, songs and slogans. The idea was to create continuous pressure on both functionaries (one representing the union government, the second, the state government) to come and publicly declare their stand before all sections of the protesters, workers and farmers. Response from the state government has so far been positive.

After 5 pm, a fire pit will be lit and all the anti-farmer, anti-worker, anti-Dalit, anti-women, anti-minority laws brought forth by the pervious central and state governments will be placed in the agni kund / fire pit and set ablaze as a mark of condemnation and resistance. Thus will end the second day of the protest.

On Monday morning, hundreds of IT employees under the banner of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) joined forces with other sections of the working class on Monday to participate in a massive protest march against the anti-people policies of the central government. The protest, dubbed ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo,’ culminated in a demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor of Karnataka.

The protesters, carrying banners and placards, raised slogans against the central government’s policies, which they allege have resulted in rising unemployment, increasing inflation, and a deterioration in the living standards of the working class. They also expressed their solidarity with farmers, agricultural workers, and other marginalized communities who have been severely affected by the government’s policies.

“The central government’s policies are anti-people and anti-worker,” said KITU President Manjunath. “They have failed to address the key issues facing the working class, such as rising unemployment, increasing inflation, and the privatization of public sector enterprises.”

The protesters also demanded the repeal of the new labor codes, which they say have weakened labor rights and made it easier for employers to exploit workers. They also called for the implementation of the recommendations of the 12th Central Pay Commission, which would provide a much-needed raise to government employees.

The protest was peaceful but spirited, and the protesters remained undeterred by the heavy police presence. They vowed to continue their struggle until their demands are met.

The Karnataka IT industry is one of the largest in India and employs millions of people. The KITU is a well-established union that has been fighting for the rights of IT workers for over two decades. The union’s participation in the ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ protest is a sign of the growing anger and frustration among IT workers over the central government’s policies.

The Maha Dharani, being jointly organised by 58 organisations (including 8 farmers’ and 15 labour organisations), will be attended by farmers, labourers, Dalits, Adivasis, women and other activists from across the state. Alongside critiquing the Centre’s stance, the organisers will also pose questions to the state government.

Expecting over 30,000 people to participate in the Dharani over the course of three days, organisers have resorted to elaborate logistical plans. The ‘Annada Runa Swagat and Dasoha Samiti’, which is taking care of the food arrangements, estimates a sum of Rs 27,04,500 for food preparation and distribution over the three days. Finances are being raised by public funding and farmers’ initiatives.

Travel arrangements have been planned for participants through trains, buses and other modes of transport. Out-of-station protesters will stay at the venue on the first two days of the Dharani.“The first day of the programme was marked by flag hoisting on account of Constitution Day. With thousands of participants from across the state arriving on the Monday, November 27, deliberations against the 4 anti-farmer laws of the Centre will be held, along with questions being posed to the state government. After deliberations, a resolution will be passed about the Centre’s policies on the final day,” Veera Sangaiah, State Working president of Raitha Sangha (Puttannaiah), told the media.

While the organisers have obtained permission from the Bengaluru City Police for the programme, they are apprehensive of over-crowding at the venue which cannot host over 3,000 people. “Stating that this protest is not by political parties but instead by voluntary farmers, we repeatedly urged the government to provide proper toilets, drinking water and stay facilities for the protesters. However, we haven’t received any definitive response from their end,” rued Nageshwara Babu, working president of Karnataka Rajya Halli Makkala Sangha.

Related:

Mahapadav/Samyuktha Horata: A Kisan-Mazdoor Historical Unity

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