Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) takes note of the statement made by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi through media that his government will withdraw the three farm acts enacted by his government last year. This needs Parliamentary procedure bringing an enactment.
The consistent and continuous struggle by the kisans under the leadership of Samyukta Kisan Morcha with determination with the active support of the working class under the leadership of trade union movement and also supported by all sections of the people has compelled the ruling dispensation to take one step back and made the PM apologize to the nation. This is a clear message to the Govt that the wealth-producing class, the workers and peasants shall never accept lying down the anti-people policies of ruling dispensation.
At the same time, the statement by the Prime Minister is silent on the issue of withdrawal of proposed Electricity Amendment Bill and the statutory enactment on Minimum Support Price at the rate of C2+50% for all crops with guaranteed procurement, which are also the major demands of the ongoing farmers’ struggle. These issues are no less important and must be conceded to.
Nearly 700 farmers have sacrificed their lives in this struggle. Mr. Ajay Mishra Teni who is the prime accused in the gruesome murder of four farmers and a journalist in Lakhimpur Kheri still continues to be a Minister in Modi’s cabinet. The murder accused must be brought to book immediately.
While congratulating the struggling farmers for their historic determined united struggle forcing such a retreat by the Govt, we reiterate our resolve to strengthen the worker peasant joint actions and struggles to change the anti worker- anti kisan-anti-people policies of the government. We are sure that the resolve taken at the national convention of workers on 11 November 2021 supported by the leadership of SKM in this direction including two days’ strike during the budget session of Parliament will be carried out vigorously with the heightened confidence on the might of peoples’ struggles in changing the anti national policies inflicting miseries, widespread destitution, hunger, joblessness, demolishing labour-rights and democratic rights etc on the toiling people and also putting the national infrastructures and assets to ransom through aggressive privatization drive and latest infamous National Monetisation Pipeline(NMP) project.
Whatever decisions the SKM will take on the future course of their struggle, the trade union movement will continue with active support which is being extended since the beginning of this historic struggle. We call upon the working class and the peasantry to strengthen the unity and intensify the struggles against the anti people policies of the BJP/NDA government.
Issued by
Tapan Sen
General Secretary