Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: CITU and Kisan Sabha members in East Singhbhum, alongside others across the country, observed “Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Diwas” on 19th January, marking the 43rd anniversary of the first joint program of workers and farmers post-independence. A street meeting was held at Birsa Chowk Sakchi, with hundreds of participants from both organizations coming together to commemorate the historic event.
The event was presided over by veteran leader Com. KK Tripathi, who highlighted the significance of the day. “On 19 January 1982, for the first time in the history of independent India, farmers and workers joined hands for a one-day nationwide general strike, demanding improvements in their lives and livelihoods. It was a day of massive mobilizations, road blockades and demonstrations, which were met with brutal police repression, resulting in the loss of 10 lives,” said Com. Tripathi.
He also criticized the Modi government’s policies, stating that despite 43 years, the basic direction of the government’s policies remained unchanged. He pointed out the government’s continued push for pro-corporate and neo-liberal policies, such as the implementation of four labour codes and the controversial National Agricultural Marketing Policy (NAMP). “Farmers and workers are once again forced to fight against these policies,” he added.
CITU Jharkhand General Secretary, Com. B. Deb, shared the demands of trade unions and farmers’ organizations for the upcoming budget. These include making essential commodities GST-free, a ban on futures trading and hoarding, implementation of a universal public distribution system, higher taxes on corporates and the super-rich and provisions for employment generation and social security for workers.
The meeting concluded with a protest against the anti-labour stance of corporate heads from Infosys and L&T, symbolized by the burning of their photographs. Comrades J Majumdar, KD Pratap, KP Singh, Sanjay Kumar, PR Gupta and T Mukherjee also addressed the gathering, reaffirming their commitment to these demands. The meeting ended with a call for a joint protest on 5th February if these demands are not addressed in the budget.
