Labour organisations stage protest in Yadgir

In response to the call for general strike announced by Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU), various trade unions and labour organisations staged protest in Yadgir on Thursday.

As the protesters blocked the major junction Subhashchandra Bose Circle, the police diverted vehicles on alternative routes.

The protesters alleged that the Central government had continued to privatise all public sector enterprises and public services such as railways, ports and docks, coal mines, oil, steel, defence, roads, airports, banks, insurance, telecommunications, postal services, nuclear power, power generation and supply, etc., and sell them to large corporate companies of Indian and foreign origin.

In consequence, it had stunted local industrial and economic growth and had led to a very serious unemployment problem, they alleged.

They said that people were facing hardships due to the rise in prices of essential commodities, privatisation of education and health, and increasing economic inequalities and demanded immediate remedial measures.

After the demonstration, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the authorities. The demands included, repeal of four labour codes, VB G RAM G, the Insurance Act, and the Peace Act, the Seed Act and the Land Acquisition Act.

The State government should not frame regulations for Labour Codes and all anti-people bills should be withdrawn, and the Karnataka State minimum wage revision should be implemented, they demanded.

K. Somashekar Yadagiri, secretary of State, AIUTUC; Basavaraja Dore, co-convener of CITU; Jailal Thotadamani, district coordinator of CITU; D. Umadevi, district president, AIUTUC; Anita Hiremath, district steering committee member, CITU; Renuka Patil, district committee member, AIUTUC; S.M. Sagar; KPRS; Mallikarjun Satyampet; State vice-president of KRRS; and others were present.