Indian general strike of 2020-21: Difference between revisions
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On 26 November 2020, a mass | On 26 November 2020, a mass general strike was held across India. The strike was organized by 10 trade unions across the country and was supported by the Indian National Congress, [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], farmers' mass organisations and other left-wing parties. The strike saw an estimated 250 million people involved, making it the largest in history.<ref>https://www.mintpressnews.com/largest-strike-world-history-millions-india-protest/263999/</ref><ref>https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/01/08/why-are-200-million-workers-on-strike-in-india/</ref><ref>https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/01/10/indi-j10.html</ref> | ||
The worker's unions presented a list of seven demands: | The worker's unions presented a list of seven demands: | ||
# Direct cash transfer of Rs 7,500 (US $101) to all families who earn less than the income tax threshold | # Direct cash transfer of Rs 7,500 (US $101) to all families who earn less than the income tax threshold | ||
# 10kg free grain | # 10kg free grain ration per person every month to all in need. | ||
# Expansion of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to provide employment from the current 100 days to 200 days work in rural areas with enhanced wages, and extension of this programme to urban areas | # Expansion of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to provide employment from the current 100 days to 200 days work in rural areas with enhanced wages, and extension of this programme to urban areas | ||
# Withdrawal of all anti worker labour code changes and anti-farmer laws | # Withdrawal of all anti worker labour code changes and anti-farmer laws | ||
# Stop privatization of public sector corporations, including those in the finance sector. Stop the | # Stop privatization of public sector corporations, including those in the finance sector. Stop the corporatization of government-run manufacturing and services entities in railways, ordinance manufacturing, ports and similar areas. | ||
# Withdraw the draconian circular of forced premature retirement of government and public sector employees. | # Withdraw the draconian circular of forced premature retirement of government and public sector employees. | ||
# Provide a pension to all, restore earlier pension scheme and improve EPS 95.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-11-26|title=Over 250 million workers join national strike in India|url=http://www.industriall-union.org/over-250-million-workers-join-national-strike-in-india|access-date=2020-12-02|website=IndustriALL|language=en}}</ref> | # Provide a pension to all, restore earlier pension scheme and improve EPS 95.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-11-26|title=Over 250 million workers join national strike in India|url=http://www.industriall-union.org/over-250-million-workers-join-national-strike-in-india|access-date=2020-12-02|website=IndustriALL|language=en}}</ref> | ||
== Response of Government == | |||
The response from the Indian government has been one of apathy to the suffering of farmers as they braved the unforgiving cold weather to demonstrate. | |||
Harpal Singh, organising secretary of non-partisan farmers' organisation BKU(Chaduni) remarked upon observing the insincerity of the government despite the deaths of 60 farmers at the time : | |||
“It seems like the Centre wants more farmers – martyrs – to lose their lives… only God knows how many are enough to make the government reconsider its position,”[https://www.newsclick.in/with-no-faith-ongoing-talks-farmers-prepare-step-up-pressure-centre] | |||
On October 3 2021 in the Lakhimpur Kehri district, a speeding SUV was rammed by BJP-linked persona into a crowd of farmers, who had gathered to protest the appearance of a BJP politician. 4 farmers and a journalist died, 10 were injured and two BJP members were lynched in the aftermath.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/lakhimpur-kheri-incident-no-less-than-a-terror-attack-says-jayant-chaudhary-seeks-uapa-against-minister-son/articleshow/86846660.cms] | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Latest revision as of 13:34, 3 September 2025
On 26 November 2020, a mass general strike was held across India. The strike was organized by 10 trade unions across the country and was supported by the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), farmers' mass organisations and other left-wing parties. The strike saw an estimated 250 million people involved, making it the largest in history.[1][2][3]
The worker's unions presented a list of seven demands:
- Direct cash transfer of Rs 7,500 (US $101) to all families who earn less than the income tax threshold
- 10kg free grain ration per person every month to all in need.
- Expansion of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to provide employment from the current 100 days to 200 days work in rural areas with enhanced wages, and extension of this programme to urban areas
- Withdrawal of all anti worker labour code changes and anti-farmer laws
- Stop privatization of public sector corporations, including those in the finance sector. Stop the corporatization of government-run manufacturing and services entities in railways, ordinance manufacturing, ports and similar areas.
- Withdraw the draconian circular of forced premature retirement of government and public sector employees.
- Provide a pension to all, restore earlier pension scheme and improve EPS 95.[4]
Response of Government[edit | edit source]
The response from the Indian government has been one of apathy to the suffering of farmers as they braved the unforgiving cold weather to demonstrate.
Harpal Singh, organising secretary of non-partisan farmers' organisation BKU(Chaduni) remarked upon observing the insincerity of the government despite the deaths of 60 farmers at the time :
“It seems like the Centre wants more farmers – martyrs – to lose their lives… only God knows how many are enough to make the government reconsider its position,”[1]
On October 3 2021 in the Lakhimpur Kehri district, a speeding SUV was rammed by BJP-linked persona into a crowd of farmers, who had gathered to protest the appearance of a BJP politician. 4 farmers and a journalist died, 10 were injured and two BJP members were lynched in the aftermath.[2]