Farmers to Join Two Days Nationwide Strike Called By Trade Unions on 8th & 9th Jan

Farmers from all over India would join two days nationwide strike on 8^th and 9^th January, called by the central trade unions against the alleged oppressive policies for workers by the Prime Minister Modi-led BJP government.

General Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Hannan Mollah told media that "AIKS and Bhumi Adhikar Andolan will be observing gramin hartal, road roko and rail roko on 8^th and 9^th January, the day on which trade unions are observing the countrywide general strike. This move is against the BJP government's failure to deal with rural distress and to save farmers' lands from the corporates. The farmers will be giving all support to the ensuing general strike".

Atul Kumar Anjaan of CPI said the farmer’s action committee in its meeting decided that when people from all sphere including the workers, employees and common people are protesting against Modi government's policies then farmers will also join them.

Anjaan said, "The farmers will join road jam, demonstration and protest meetings all over the country to make the nationwide strike successful and register their dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister and his policies”.

He further said that the farmers’ organisations who had organised a massive rally on 29 and 30 November last year in front of Parliament were of the view that four and half years of Modi-led-BJP government failed to fulfill their promises.

General Secretary of CITU, Tapan Sen said that the public sector employees, bank and insurance employees, unorganised sector workers and port and dock workers will observe a nationwide strike tomorrow and day after against the increasing economic crisis, price rise and acute unemployment called by central trade unions as well as mass organisations.

Sen alleged that under Modi government’s regime, a repressive environment has been created for the working class people.

He said, “Our association is getting stronger every year and this is the 18^th nationwide strike against the government's anti-worker policies. The main motive of our 12-point charter of demands is to revive India’s economy and save the rights of working class”.

10 trade unions who have jointly called for the general strike include AITUC, AIUTUC, INTUC, HMS, CITU, UTUC, AICCTU, TUCC, LPF and SEWA.