At the nationwide call of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, protests against the four labour codes and three farm bills were organised in the District Magistrate and Sub-divisional Magistrate offices across the districts of Delhi on January 7 and 8.
The all India centre of CITU had given the call to send memorandums to the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of all states through either protest demonstrations or gheraos of the offices of DMs across the country.
A large number of factory workers from various industrial areas in the national capital region, Delhi Jal Board employees, medical representatives and street hawkers participated in the rallies spread across two days. Along with workers members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India and the All India Democratic Women’s Association also took part in the protest demonstrations in solidarity with the workers and farmers.
At several places, the rallies led by the trade union also faced police action.
In the South West district of the national capital, the rally of CITU members were stopped by the police officers as soon as they reached the SDM office in Dwarka Sector 8. However, the members went ahead with the program and organised a public meeting chaired by Chhote Lal. Later, the members submitted a memorandum to the SDM.
Protest demonstrations were also held at DM offices in Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar; North East Delhi; Shahdara in Nand Nagri and the SDM office at Alipur, following which memorandums were submitted to the officers. CITU delegates submitted a memorandum to the DM in Nangloi as well, led by state vice president, HC Pant on January 8.
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According to a press release by CITU Delhi, the speakers addressing the protests pointed “how the Modi Government used the restrictions in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic as an "opportunity in crisis" to push the four labour codes and three farm bills, under which all social security measures for the workers have been withdrawn and the state support for agriculture has been curtailed.
Along with the repeal of the labour codes and farm bills, CITU has also demanded the repeal of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020; minimum wage of Rs 21,000; a monthly cash transfer of Rs 7,500 for all non-income tax paying families and guaranteed 10 kg foodgrain per month per person. Further, the central trade union has demanded the extension of national rural employment scheme to the urban areas, with 200 days of guaranteed work at minimum wage of Rs 700 per day; the repeal of the New Pension Scheme and social security for all.
