Central TU leaders call for all-India strike on Nov 26, celebrate 100 years of AITUC

By Our Representative

Central trade union leaders, gathered in Delhi to celebrate 100 years of the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), India’s first national trade union organization formed at the founding conference held on October 31 to November 2, 1920, have called for a nationwide strike call of November 26, 2020 in favour of their demands for the rejection codification of labour laws, farms bills, sale of public sector enterprises, natural resources and attack on the democratic rights of the people.
Participating in the event, held at the AITUC Bhawan in Delhi, they said, the working class won over several labour rights from British rule and in independent India, which are under attack by the present Central government. They called for the need for trade union unity for the occasion.
Those participating in the event included Ashok Singh, vice president, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC); Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, general secretary, Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS); Tapan Sen, general secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU); Satyavan, secretary, All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC); Rajiv Dimri, general secretary, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU); Lata, secretary, Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA); and Shatrujit Singh, United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).

Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary, AITUC, narrated some significant events and agitations prior to the formation the AITUC in 2020. She said that Indian working class is proud of its role in the freedom struggle of the country to win independence from the foreign rule. Union leaders expressed their anguish of the government decisions of rolling back “hard won” rights of workers, undermining tripartism, bipartism, commitments to international labour standards and ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions and relevant laws.
Naveen and a team from the Centre of Education and Communication (Sunil, Ashok, Abhishek and Harshita), put up an exhibition of photographs, paper cuttings etc. of the event, spanning 100 years of AITUC, on the premises of the AITUC Bhawan, Delhi. A booklet titled “AITUC – Past, Present and Future” was released on the occasion.

Comments

TU activist Anirudh Rajan, lawyer Ajay Kumar in custody: Wounded reputation of world's largest democracy?

By Vedika S* Over the last few days, India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), known to be tasked with suppressing revolutionary, democratic, and progressive forces, conducted a series of raids across Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. Targets included human rights attorney Pankaj Tripathi, student leader Devendra Azad, and peasant union leader Sukhwinder Kaur. Lawyer and anti-displacement activist Ajay Kumar was arrested and taken to his home in Mohali, which was subsequently raided. He is now imprisoned in Lucknow as a suspect in the NIA's "Northern Regional Bureau (NRB) Revival case."

RG Kar saga: Towards liberation from the constraints of rigid political parties?

By Atanu Roy* There's a saying: "There is no such thing as a half-pregnancy." This adage seems particularly relevant when discussing the current regime of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The party appears to be entrenched in widespread corruption that affects nearly every aspect of our lives. One must wonder, why would they exclude the health sector—a lucrative area where illicit money can flow freely, thanks to a network of corrupt leaders colluding with ambitious bureaucrats?

India's 55.6% still can't afford healthy diet, yet food wastage a serious issue

By Vikas Meshram According to this year's 'State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World' report, India has the highest number of malnourished people in the world, with a staggering 195 million affected. This report, prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, was published jointly by five UN agencies, including UNICEF. The report also highlights a slight improvement in India's statistics: between 2004-06, the number of malnourished people in the country was 240 million.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Unwavering source of ideological inspiration in politics, life: Personal tribute to Yechury

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak Sitaram Yechury was everyone's comrade. He lived his life in public like an open book of praxis. Everyone was familiar with his family background, student life, many talents, achievements, and political journey that defines his everyday life as a committed communist.

Trailblazer in literary innovation, critic of Indian mythology, including Ramayana

By Harsh Thakor* Ranganayakamma, commonly known as RN, stands out as a transformative figure in promoting Marxist thought, democratic ideals, and anti-caste principles through her remarkably clear and engaging writing style. A trailblazer in literary innovation, her works span a broad array of topics, from critiques of Indian mythology and revivalism to discussions on civil liberties, the Indian Communist Movement, and Maoism in China.

'Abduction' of labour activist Anirudh Rajan part of a 'troubling trend': CASR

By Our Representative The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has issued a strong denunciation of the "abduction" of labour rights activist Anirudh Rajan, who was taken by state authorities on September 5, 2024, while traveling to meet his family. This incident is part of a troubling trend, as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and various state forces have increasingly targeted trade union and democratic rights activists over the past year.

'Void in Leftist landscape': Loss of Sitaram Yechury who had helped form INDIA bloc

By Vikas Meshram* The passing of Sitaram Yechury has cast a profound stillness over leftist organizations across India. Renowned as a distinguished politician, columnist, economist, and social activist, Yechury was a staunch advocate for student rights and movements. His leadership skills became apparent early in his academic career, as he was elected three times as the president of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Yechury also endured imprisonment during the Emergency period, underscoring his commitment to political activism.

'300 Nazis fell by your gun': Most successful female sniper in history

By Harsh Thakor* "Miss Pavlichenko’s well known to fame, Russia’s your country, fighting is your game. The whole world will always love you for all time to come, Three hundred Nazis fell by your gun." — from Woody Guthrie's “Miss Pavlichenko"

Search This Blog