Left plans farmers, workers rally in Delhi; will question Centre’s ‘neo-liberal policies’ – The Hindu BusinessLine
Farmers across the country will participate in the event on September 5 in Delhi
The “apathy” of Narendra Modi government towards the “livelihood crisis” of workers and peasants is the reflection of its “fascist character,” leaders of CPI(M)’s front organisations — the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Kisan Sabha and the All India Agriculture Workers Union — said here on Friday. The organisations are demanding a minimum wage of ₹18,000 per month for all workers along with debt waiver for poor peasants and agricultural workers.
The leaders said that a rally of these Left outfits will send a “political message” to the “toiling people” that their real enemy is neo-liberal policies and fascistic tendencies shown by Sangh Parivar organisations.
Former MPs and CPI(M) Polit Bureau members Hanan Mollah and Tapan Sen told reporters that thousands of workers, peasants and agricultural labourers across the country will reach Delhi to participate in the ‘Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Rally’ near Parliament on September 5.
This will include 15,000 farmers from Maharashtra who participated in a march from Nashik to Mumbai demanding a farm loan waiver. “A train full of farmers will start from Nashik to Delhi,” added Kisan Sabha president Ashok Dhawale.
Communal agenda
Sen and Mollah said the neo-liberal policies and the communally divisive agenda of the Centre are interlinked and the rising unemployment and economic distress are being used to create divisions in society. “The mass organisations are trying to make people understand that the real enemy is neo-liberal policies. We want to maintain our focus on the livelihood issues of people and continue our struggle,” Sen said.
Mollah said the Centre has shown its fascist character by denying the right to say ‘no’. “Key articles of the Constitution and various Supreme Court judgments are being violated by the Centre and the BJP-run State governments. They will not allow anyone to say no. No democracy can function without the right to say no,” Mollah said.
He said the rally will be a landmark in the struggle against the anti-worker, anti-people, and anti-national neo-liberal policies that have led to deterioration of livelihood of people.
Worst hit section
S Thirunavukkarasu, a leader of the agricultural workers, said they were the worst hit by the policies. They are unemployed and are forced to migrate to cities. “Suicide among the agricultural workers due to absolute poverty is yet to be recorded by the government,” he said, and demanded a comprehensive legislation for agricultural workers. He said the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act should be extended to all rural and urban areas.
