Bharat Bandh: Trade union members arrested while attempting to block trains
Close to 1,000 protesters of various workers' unions like Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Marumalarchi Labour Front (MLF), All Indian Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Staff Federation (TTSF), took part in the march and protest.
The rally which started from Kattabomman statue on RMS road went on till railway station.
Protesters sat on the road and raised various demands like revocation of four labour laws, assurance for minimum wage, among others.
R. Lenin, CITU, district secretary, said that the protest organised as part of the Bharat Bandh was to stress the workers' demand for a better livelihood.
'As the BJP-led Union government through their continuous laws and orders have acted against the welfare of the working-class people in all sectors starting from agriculture, transport, education, among others,' he added.
In addition, the move towards privatisation of key sectors like railways, airport, health, education, has not only deteriorated the quality, but has also alienated the common from accessing the services, Mr. Lenin noted.
The key changes, though affected every single person in the nation, have also dragged on the progress of society as a whole.
The inflation which has increased the price of every essential product, the buying capacity of the public has drastically been affected, he observed.
Charging the BJP government not caring the keep the prices of petrol under control, he noted that even when the global price was lower, the Indian government could not think of its citizens.
The protesters also asked for a national-level welfare board for unorganised workers to ensure a decent wage and job security for them.
As they tried to block the road, police arrested the protesters and detained them. They were later released in the afternoon.
In two separate events, Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisation (JACTO-GEO) and All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) staged protests against privatisation of education and demanding protection of public sectors respectively.
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