Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Rally on 5th September 2018 Against Government’s Anti-worker, Anti-people and Anti-national policies

Hundreds of thousands of workers, peasants and agricultural workers from across the country are getting ready to reach Delhi to participate in the historic ‘Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Rally’ near Parliament on 5th September 2018 to oppose the neoliberal policies, the communal divisive agenda and the authoritarian attacks of the BJP led government at the centre. This will be the first ever joint demonstration in the national capital of the three important sections of the society that play a major role in producing the wealth of the country. It will be a land mark in the struggle against the anti worker, anti people, and antinational neoliberal policies that have led to deterioration in the lives and livelihood of the toiling people of this country.

There has been huge response to the campaign undertaken by CITU, AIKS and AIAWU for the 5th September rally. District, block and village level meetings have been conducted across the country. Crores of leaflets have been distributed. District level jathas have been held in many states, despite the rains. Hundreds of thousands of people have participated in these programmes.

Over 5 lakhs peasants and workers at around 600 places in over 400 districts the country participated in the ‘jail bharo’ programme at the district headquarters called by AIKS and supported by CITU and AIAWU. Around 1 lakh workers and peasants in 450 centres in more than 250 districts participated in the ‘samuhik jagaran’ called by CITU, on the night of 14th August.

The 5th September rally is also being supported by eminent people in different fields like economists, artists, human rights activists etc.

The reception committee constituted under the chairmanship of eminent economist Prof Prabhat Patnaik is making all arrangements to receive the workers and peasants coming for the rally. Camps are being constructed at Ramlila maidan in Delhi and Gaziabad. The procession will start at Ramlila maidan in Delhi at 9.00 a.m. on 5th September and reach Parliament Street where the public meeting will be held. Leaders of CITU, AIKS and AIAWU will address the meeting.

Four peasants from Palakkad in Kerala have already started the over 2500 km long journey on motorbikes to participate in the rally. Reports from different states show that participants will be reaching Delhi from 3rd September onwards.

Among others, the rally will highlight the following demands:

    1. Curb price rise; universalise Public Distribution System; ban forward trading in essential commodities

    2. Concrete measures for generation of decent employment

    3. Minimum wage of not less than Rs 18000 per month for all workers

    4. Stop anti worker labour law amendments

    5. Remunerative price for the peasants as per Swaminathan Committee recommendations; ensure public procurement

    6. Debt waiver for poor peasants and agricultural workers

    7. Comprehensive legislation for agricultural workers

    8. Implementation of MGNREGA in all rural areas; amendment to the Act to cover urban areas

    9. Food security, health, education, housing for all

    10. Universal social security

    11. No contractorisation

    12. Redistributive land reforms

    13. Stop forcible land acquisition

    14. Relief and rehabilitation for the victims of natural calamities

    15. Reverse neoliberal policies

CITU, AIKS and AIAWU seek the support of all sections of people to this struggle against the neoliberal, communal and authoritarian BJP regime at the centre. They call upon the people to defeat the anti people, anti national and authoritarian BJP led regime to pave the way for bigger united struggles for the reversal of the neoliberal policies.

Tapan Sen K Hemalata Hannan Mollah, Dr Ashok Dhawale A. Vijaya Raghavan,

General Secretary, President General Secretary, President General Secretary

S Thirunavukkarasu

President

CITU AIKS AIAWU