Protests against Government decision to implement Labour Codes
Protests in Tripura against attack on rally by BJP goons
A large number of people took to the streets in Tripura to vent their anger against the barbaric attack on a procession by BJP-backed goons in Dharmanagar right in front of police on November 26, in which 12 people including former CPI(M) MLA Amitabha Datta and senior party leader Ratan Roy were injured. On November 28, Agartala, the state capital, roared as thousands marched with red flags. A strong demand was raised for the arrest and exemplary punishment of the BJP miscreants involved in the attack. Questions were also raised in the rally about the role of the chief minister. After the attack, Chief Minister Manik Saha did not even issue a statement of condemnation. This clearly indicates the encouragement being given to the attackers. The police’s inaction has also sparked shock and anger. There were demands that the rule of law be restored immediately in the state. The rally, held at the call of CPI(M), demanded that the police perform their duties in accordance with the Constitution.
In the afternoon, a protest rally began in front of Bhanu Ghosh Memorial Bhavan at Melarmath, demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of the criminals involved in the barbaric attack. The massive procession travelled through Paradise Chowmuhani, Post Office Chowmuhani, Kaman Chowmuhani, Orient area, and RMS Chowmuhani, before returning to Paradise Chowmuhani. Here, a protest meeting was presided over by CPI(M) state committee member Shankar Prasad Dutta. Speakers included Ratan Das, secretary of the party’s West District Committee; Amal Chakraborty, secretary of the Sadar Subdivision Committee; and Samar Chakraborty, secretary of Dukli Subdivision Committee.
Before the rally began, CPI(M) Central Committee member Manik Dey addressed a brief gathering. He said the BJP government is an authoritarian government, a fascist party — what they call “neo-fascist.” Under their rule, any political programme of the opposition is being attacked. They are creating obstacles in several ways. Because of their anti-people actions, people are joining protests and raising their voices against the misrule. As they fail to stop the people, they are using violence out of frustration. Alienated from the masses, they are resorting to cowardly attacks. The ruling party thinks that by carrying out barbaric assaults and shedding blood, they will force the Left to retreat. “They live in a fool's paradise,” he said. “Every drop of blood will intensify our struggle. People will resist.”
“The chief minister holds the Home portfolio. In front of the police, attackers assaulted the rally and beat Amitabha Datta, Ratan Roy, and 10 others. The police did nothing. Not even an ambulance was provided. A journalist arranged a vehicle to take the injured to the hospital — and he too has reportedly received death threats. The chief minister still did not issue a word of condemnation. What does this prove? It shows clearly that the chief minister’s role is encouraging the criminals. This is not a good sign. There is still time — if the government has even the slightest commitment to the Constitution and democracy, it must act,” he said.
At the protest meeting at Paradise Chowmuhani, CPI(M) state committee member Shankar Prasad Dutta expressed strong anger, saying, “The police cannot arrest criminals who attack rallies in broad daylight right in front of them. Yet they jail Left activists with excuses such as questioning which road workers took to join a rally. Shame on them. To end this anarchy and re-establish the rule of law, we must intensify the struggle.” He demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the criminals.
Ratan Das, secretary of the West District Committee, said, “BJP is not a party capable of engaging in politics in a civilised society. This BJP government cannot work for the people. Is it a crime to march demanding the repeal of the labour codes? After what happened in Dharmanagar, can one still say there is rule of law? They are a neo-fascist force — that is the truth. Terror, corruption, looting, and factionalism are their real activities. The government will not act. The people must take responsibility — reject them.”
CPI(M) state committee member and Dukli Subdivision Committee secretary Samar Chakraborty said, “Leftists cannot be stopped by attacks and bloodshed. We will continue fighting for the people. We are on the streets for people’s rights and will remain so. To restore the rule of law, the struggle must continue—and it must continue by taking to the streets.”
Sadar Subdivision Committee secretary Amal Chakraborty said, “The police refused permission for a memorial meeting for a farmer leader in Melaghar. Former ministers cannot visit areas. Former MLAs are prevented from visiting their constituencies. Permission is not granted for rallies and meetings. Criminals are never arrested. In such a situation, reliance on BJP’s criminals or the police is impossible. To restore the rule of law, the people must stand with the red flag.”
In strong protest against this barbaric attack, protest rallies were also organised on November 28 in the local markets under the initiative of the Churaibari and Uptakhali Area Committees. In the evening, a rally marched nearly 2.5 km from Charupasha market to Krishnapur market and ended with a street-corner meeting. The protest meeting was presided over by CPI(M) Uptakhali Area Committee secretary Ujjwala Das. Discussions were led by Samiran Das, Kaushal Chakraborty, and Ujjwala Das.
The situation in Dharmanagar town remained tense on Friday as well. Questions are being raised about the silence of the administration. Not a single senior official — DM, SDM, or others —has spoken publicly about the incident, which has angered the public. The attack has raised fresh concerns about the state’s law-and-order situation. The political community has sharply criticised the incident, and there is one common demand from all sides: the culprits must be punished swiftly, and peace and coexistence must be maintained in the state.
Rahul Sinha
Kerala protests against government decision to implement Labour Codes
Widespread labour protests were held across the state against the Central Government's implementation of the Labour Codes. Millions of people across Kerala participated in the nationwide protest at various centres. All trade unions, except the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, came out against the Labour codes. Service organisations also protested. The protesters burnt copies of the Labour Codes and marched towards the central government offices.
Workers arrived at their workplaces wearing black badges. The Joint Trade Union Committee, consisting of CITU, AITUC, HMS, SEWA, TUCI, NTUI, NLC, HMPK, and KTUC(M), along with the INTUC and STU, organised separate protests.
The Joint Trade Union Committee marched to the front of the GPO (General Post Office) in Thiruvananthapuram. CITU All India Secretary P. Nandakumar inaugurated the event. AITUC District President M. G. Rahul presided over the meeting. Journalists held demonstrations across the state under the leadership of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) and the Kerala Newspaper Employees Union.
N S Sajith
Trade Unions Demonstrate in Udaipur against Implementation of Labour Codes
THE trade unions of Udaipur CITU, INTUC, AITUC, AICTU and Aravali Labour Union took out a rally along with democratic and progressive intellectuals, journalists and writers from the Shaheed Smarak, Town Hall, through Bapu Bazar, Delhi Gate, and reached the Collector’s office.
A public meeting was held in which the speakers condemned the implementation of the four anti-people labour codes and demanded the immediate withdrawal of such draconian laws. The workers carried banners and placards showing their resentment against the draconian labour codes. Presiding over the meeting, CPIML state secretary Shankar Lal Chaudhary said that the labour codes have been designed to rob the workers of their rights to organise into trade unions and raise their demands before the industrialists. He said that the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is serving the interest of big capitalists like Adani and Ambani and in this process it is snatching the rights of the labour. He declared that the working class will fight against the government and force it to roll back the labour codes just as the farmers forced the government to withdraw the three agriculture acts.
Addressing the meeting, INTUC state president Jagdish Raj Shrimali blamed the BJP leadership for snatching the livelihood of the workers and forcing them to become a slave of the capitalists. He called the union government a government of liars and appealed to the people to overthrow it. CPIM district secretaryComrade Rajesh Singhvi in his address said that the NDA has enacted these codes to help the capitalist friends of Prime Minister Modi. He said that even with the existing labour laws it was very difficult to protect the rights of the workers but now with the new labour codes it will become impossible.
Former AIFUCTO zonal secretary Professor Hemendra Chandalia said that the constitution of India provides for the right to life as a fundamental right. The Labour Codes snatch away even this fundamental right. He called upon all categories of the working class, including employees of schools, universities, multinational companies, Gig workers and workers in the unorganised sector to unite and fight against these draconian laws. Himmat Seth, senior journalist, said that the Labour Codes were passed during the COVID period and no debate took place on them in the parliament.
Therefore it is more important to oppose them. AITUC secretary Comrade Subhash Shrimali said that their Union will fight whenever the Central Trade Unions call for action against the labour codes. The meeting was addressed by INTUC secretary Indu Shekhar Vyas, CITU secretary Comrade Heera Lal Salvi, Shambhu Lal, President of Mewar Auto Drivers Union, Mrs. Leela Sharma, MCPI, and many other trade union and left party leaders. A memorandum addressed to the President of India demanding the withdrawal of the Labour Codes was submitted to the district collector under the leadership of P. S. Khichi, convenor of the Trade Unions Coordination Committee.
H S Chandalia
