Members of the Telangana Rythu Sangham, the CITU and other frontal organisations of the CPI (M) took to the streets here on Thursday as part of ‘Jail Bharo’ stir protesting against the alleged anti-farmer and anti-labour policies of the BJP-led Central government and its ‘unkept promises’.
Scores of protesters led by the CPI (M) district secretary Nunna Nageswara Rao embarked on a rally from the Pavilion Grounds towards the Collectorate, amid slogans.
Mild tension broke out when the police stopped the rally midway at Mayuri Centre and detained the organisers of the agitation. They were let off later in the day, sources said.
Earlier, addressing the demonstrators, Mr. Nageswara Rao slammed the BJP regime for allegedly remaining insensitive to the plight of lakhs of distressed farmers across the country and miserably failing to implement the countless promises including the assurance to implement M. S. Swaminathan panel recommendations to address the root cause of the agrarian crisis.
He said the organisations representing the farmers, workers, agricultural labourers and other toiling masses will further intensify the joint mass movements soon, to fight against the ‘pro-corporate’ polices of the BJP regime and defend the rights of the working class.
CPI (M) district secretariat member P. Venkateshwara Rao, the district leaders of the Telangana Rythu Sangham and the CITU also spoke.
‘Opposing Modi’s policies’
SANGAREDDY Staff reporter writes: Participating in Jail Bharo programme held here on Thursday, led by CITU State president Chukka Ramulu, the leaders called upon the workers and farmers to take up ‘Chalo Delhi’ programme on September 5 in a big way. Mr. Ramulu has alleged that both the Union Government and State Government had failed to address the problems being faced by labourers. He said that the government has been trying to cancel the NREGS programme, which has been providing employment for rural poor.
The government has not come forward even to discuss minimum wage of ₹18,000 for labour, he said.
CITU leaders B. Mallesh, Rajaiah, G. Jayaraj participated in the programme.
‘NREGS diluted’
NIZAMABAD Special Correspondent: Police here on Thursday arrested about 100 workers of CITU, Rythu Sangham and Vyasaya Karima Sangham affiliated to the Left parties during their ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation launched across the country, protesting against the anti-people and anti-worker policies of the State and Central Governments.
Speaking on the occasion, the CITU district general secretary Noorjahan said that the Modi Government, in the last four years, failed to keep its promises and did not implement a minimum monthly wage of ₹18,000 for workers. On the other hand, it has increased the repression against workers, she said. Alleging that the Centre was trying to dilute the NREGS, she said it had adopted anti-farmer policies while making loud claims that it was a pro-farmer government.
The associations, as part of its march to Parliament on September 5, organised the ‘Jail Bharo’ before revenue divisional offices in the State today. Pedddi Venkatramulu, M. Gangadarappa, M. Govardhan, P. Lingam, B. Krishnaveni, Jamuna, Bhaskar and S. Ravi were among those arrested by police.
