CITU Congratulates the Participants in the Massive Rally

Centre of Indian Trade Unions congratulates the more than five lakhs of participants in the historic March to Parliament to-day (23rd February) at the call of Central Trade Unions for making this rally the biggest ever mobilization in the Capital City. Raising the basic policy issues of the working people and all sections of downtrodden, the Trade Unions have sent a powerful message to UPA-II Government that it should change its policies so as to end the deprivations of the working people.

The rally has seen men and women from all sections of workers – unorganized sector, organized sector which included both private and public section, central and state government employees and employees from Bank, Insurance, Telecom and Defence production. Largest sections of participants were from the unorganized sector – construction, bricklin, hamalis, autorikshaw, driver, beedi worker, handloom and powerloom workers etc.

The anger among the people in the rural and urban parts of the country was reflected by this great mobilization demanding justice to the working people. CITU congratulates every section for their role in making this programme a great success. CITU assures the people of the country that it will carry forward the unity of Central Trade Unions and National Federations and continue the struggle for our demands.

Workers March to Parliament

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) congratulates the lakhs of workers, men and women who participated in the `March to Parliament’ on February 23, 2011. This march was called by the Central Trade Unions and national federations of employees. This united protest by all sections of the workers and employees is significant and is a powerful manifestation of the working class demanding the implementation of their five-point charter of demands.

The rally has protested against the failure of the UPA government to curb prices of essential commodities which has eroded the livelihood of the working people. The massive protest is a warning to the Manmohan Singh government not to proceed with the disinvestment of shares in the Public Sector Enterprises. The Central government is selling off vital public assets in the name of disinvestment to Indian and foreign monopolists. This is part of the loot of resources which is going on in the corrupt regime of the UPA government. This protest signals the determination of the working class to oppose the sale of precious public assets cheaply.

While the corporates and big capitalists are allowed free rein to circumvent the law, corner resources, evade taxes and make huge profits, the government turns a blind eye to the gross violations of labour laws which provide limited protection to the workers. The rally has demanded protection of the rights of workers in the unorganized sector and of contract and casual workers.

The massive workers’ demonstration is a display of the united will of the working class movement to fight against the neo-liberal and anti-working class policies of the UPA government. The CPI(M) extends its full support to this united movement.