The call for Grameen Bandh and industrial strike given by Samyukta Kissan Manch and Central Trade Unions, received a good response in Himachal Pradesh as thousands of workers; farmers and youth organizations held protest demonstrations and staged Dharnas at many places on February 16 to oppose policies of the Central government.
In Himachal Pradesh CITU , Kisan Sabha , SFI, Mahila Samiti , DYFI , Anganwadi workers , Power project workers and several other organizations held protest demonstrations at Shimla, Mandi, Kullu , Hamirpur , Una , Chamba, Nahan , Dharamshala and sub- division level at many places.
At Shimla, CITU state president Vijendra Mehra, CITU state secretary Prem Gautam, Kisan Sabha state president Kuldeep Singh Tanwar and secretary Hotam Sonkhla said, “Present Modi government has completely stood with the capitalists and handing over economic resources to them by depriving common people from their due .”
They said, “In the name of ease of doing business the Central government is imposing anti-labour codes enforcing twelve hours duty, fixed term for workers and multi task workers, putting ban on strikes and protests and the Modi government has failed to announce MSP for agricultural produce and committing atrocities against the protesting farmers instead of implementing MS Swaminathan Committee recommendations.”
“The promise of Achhe Din for people given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proved a hollow slogan and only brought misery for poor people “, they accused.
The protest at Mandi was held at DC office Mandi which was addressed by CITU leader Bhupender Singh, Kisan Sabha leader Kushal Bhardwaj among others.
They said,” The call for protest on February 16 has been given to oppose anti-labor policies of the Modi government, to stop the rising inflation and withdraw the decision to repeal labor laws, implementation of MSP for farmers’ crops and to repeal the new electricity bill, besides other demands.”
They said, “The Modi government is selling public sector undertakings at throwaway prices to its capitalist friends and is engaged in repealing the laws meant for social security; therefore workers and farmers, students and youths will vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to prevent Modi government from coming to power”.