AITUC gives call for ‘Bengaluru Chalo’

Rally is in support of long-pending demands

H.V. Ananta Subbarao (centre), president of AITUC, addressing presspersons in Ballari on Monday.

The State unit of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has given a call for “Bengaluru Chalo” on September 4 to press the Union and State governments to concede its long-pending genuine demands. The programme is also to protest against the anti-worker and anti-people policies pursued by both the governments.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, H.V. Ananta Subbarao, president of AITUC, strongly criticised the BJP-led NDA government for bringing in amendments to Labour Laws in a bid to curtail the rights of the working class and depriving them of social security and other retirement benefits, disinvestment in profit-making public sector undertakings, overburdening the common man by imposing taxes, among other things.

“Narendra Modi came to power promising Achche Din by rooting out corruption and black money. But the results are nil as all the announcements made were without a proper study. Mr. Modi also toured several countries, which no other Prime Minister did in the past, to get foreign investment and till now he has not spelled out the outcome. Moreover, he has not been able to establish cordial relationship with the neighbouring countries.

The demonetisation of currency had only shrunk industrial growth affecting employment generation. Above all the Make in India campaign is a big flop,” he observed.

He also sought to know why the Union government, which took a decision to waive hefty loans of the corporate sector amounting to several lakh crores of rupees, was hesitant in announcing waiver of farm loans and save farmers.

He also charged the Modi government with subverting the essence of the Constitution for consolidating Hindu votes which, according to him, was very dangerous to the country. “To divert the attention of the public from its failures, the Modi government has been raking up controversies on cow slaughtering, Hinduism and the like, which was very unfortunate,” he said.

Mr. Subbarao urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to implement minimum wages, provide retirement benefits and compensation in case of accidents for workers in the unorganised sectors among other social security benefits.

H.K. Ramachandrappa, executive president, Adimurthy, Channappa and Kantaiah were present.