The bandh call given by Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU), a platform of various trade unions working in different sectors, as part of the nationwide strike in protest of the Union government’s “pro-corporate” and “anti-people” policies evoked a good response in Raichur on Wednesday.
Shops, hotels, garages, theatres, trading units at Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee and other business establishments, including all banks, did not raise their shutters. Roads wore a deserted look in most parts of the district headquarters. Though government offices functioned as usual, they witnessed fewer activities.
The public transportation buses operated by North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) remained off the roads as the employees actively participated in the agitation. LIC employees skipped work and staged a demonstration outside the divisional office before joining the agitation at Ambedkar Circle. Postal services were hit as the employees joined the strike.
Educational institutions, including government schools and colleges, announced a holiday. “In view of the nationwide strike, we have announced a holiday for government schools today. We will run schools for the whole of Saturday to make up,” A. Ramanjaneya, Deputy Director of Public Instruction, told The Hindu .
Anti-people polices condemned
Activists associated with Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress, All India United Trade Union Centre, Insurance Employees’ Union, All India Bank Employees’ Association, BSNL Employees’ Union, National Federation of Postal Employees’, National Federation of Telecom Employees’ and other left trade unions held a huge demonstration at Ambedkar Circle in the morning. They raised slogans against the Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Leaders of various trade unions stressed on the adverse impacts of the Union government’s policies on various sectors. It’s attempts to weaken labour laws, grab of farm lands and suppress democratic voices were harshly condemned.
Effigy burnt
Activists associated with All India Democratic Students Organisation, All India Democratic Youth Organisation and All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghathan burnt an effigy of the Union government condemning its educational policies that were leading to the “saffronisation and commercialisation” of education.
Farmers block road
Supporting the bandh call, over 300 farmers associated with Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha blocked the road near Rajendra Gunj for an hour. Raising slogans against the Union and State governments for their “insensitivity to agrarian crisis and resultant farmer suicides”, they marched to the office of Deputy Commissioner. They demanded three-phase power supply to farm pump-sets for at least 12 hours a day. They also demanded relief work in drought-hit areas.
Separate rally
Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI), a trade unions’ platform affiliated to Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), which was not part of JCTU), took out a separate rally through the city. The rally, in which around 3,000 labourers and farmers participated, began at Station Circle and culminated at the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
