THE joint platform of central trade union organisations condemned the filing of FIRs against the workers who were peacefully protesting against the labour policy, disinvestment and privatisation of public sector enterprises on August 9. The joint platform of the trade unions wrote a letter to the union home minister on August 17, seeking his intervention.

The trade unions said that the workers raised issues of the front rank coronavirus warriors including doctors, nurses, technical staff, safai karamcharies/municipal workers and the scheme workers – ASHA, Anganwadi and Mid-Day Meal workers on the day.  “The working people are compelled to come out in protest during the pandemic period due to continuing miseries being heaped on them by the government,” they said.

The unions said that safety measures like wearing masks and maintaining physical distance were strictly practiced during protests and yet FIRs have been filed on the grounds of violating those safety rules. “It smacks of vindictive attempt at muzzling the democratic rights of the unions to represent the grievances of the workers. This is unacceptable,” they said and urged home minister Amit Shah to withdraw the cases in the best interests of democracy.