Press Release by All India Trade Union Congress - May 26, 2021

All India Trade Union Congress

Press Release

The following statement was issued to the press by Ms. Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary, AITUC today on 26th May 2021.

AITUC congratulates kisans, workers, students, youth, front line workers for making

26th May 2021 a memorable “BLACK DAY for INDIAN DEMOCRACY”

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the CTUs, independent sectoral federations/associations had given a call to observe 26th May 2021 as a Black Day for Indian Democracy. That is the day Narendra Modi Government took oath of office in 2014 and second time on 30th May in 2019. 26th May is the day when the Chalo Dilli Kisan Andolan completes 6 months. It is also the day when the All India Strike called by the Central Trade Unions on their continued demands for cash transfer to poor families, universally free rations to all needy, expansion of MGNREGA and new employment scheme for urban areas, against privatisation of PSUs and government departments, for scraping NPS and restoration of earlier pension scheme etc., becomes 6 month old.

The reports reaching the AITUC headquarters show that there was a spontaneous outpouring of resentment against the track record of the Modi Government. This anguish is multiplied with the cruel facts that Modi Government has played with the lives of people, first by ignoring warning of WHO for Health emergency and then the way lockdown was declared on 24th March 2020 at a notice of 4 hours imposing immense suffering to the working people specially the workers, who work away from their homes. That followed with criminal negligence by not preparing public health system to face further eventualities and ignored the warming of scientists and remained busy in flouting norms only with the greed of winning state elections. His government cared only for Corporates all these years and in the severe crises of Covid-19 his government not only allowed them to mint huge profits but also facilitated them through packages ignoring common man’s needs and even of the middle classes, small, micro and medium enterprises and businesses. The people can’t forget the agony of getting beds, medicines, oxygen etc., in their dire-need and losing their nears and dears to the claws of death. They can’t forget the indignity to the departed, failing assistance for cremations & burials. Hence the anguish is manifold. The result is that except for the coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal, where yaas has hit today the black day was observed in every nook and corner of India.

On this day we reiterate our demands as follows:

• Free vaccine for all,

• Strengthen the Government run Public Health System at all levels,

• Immediate help to all unorganized/informal sector workers and unemployed people in terms of free food grains and cash subsidy of Rs.7500/- per month,

• Repeal 3 Farm Laws, withdraw Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, enact law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price of farm produce,

• Withdraw 4 Labour Codes & draft central rules and convene Indian Labour Conference immediately,

• Put a stop to policy of privatisation/corporatization of PSUs and Government departments,

• Withdraw all arbitrary suspension of 38 labor laws for a period of 3 years by the states ruled by BJP and its allies openly violating the international labor standards i:e freedom of association convention 87, violation of collective bargaining convention 98, convention 144 tripartite meeting and consultations etc.

Amarjeet Kaur,

General Secretary, AITUC