AICCTU Ranchi city committee took out a protest march on 21 January and burnt the effigy of Union MoS for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya to protest against the ‘start-ups’ for the benefit of companies, double life imprisonment for 8 Pricol workers, and driving Hyderabad student Rohith Vemula to suicide. Shouting slogans like “the company raj stands exposed”, “Remove Union Labour Minister and HRD Minister”, “Release the Pricol 8”, and “Take back the Start-up scheme”, the march proceeded to Albert Ekka chowk where it culminated in a meeting.
The speakers at the protest meeting said that the double standards of the Central government policies have been thoroughly exposed. They are meant to benefit companies and corporate houses rather than workers or common people. ‘Start-up’ is an attack on workers’ rights. Political protection to the mafia and the sentence of double life imprisonment for the 8 Pricol workers is an assault on the working class. AICCTU will continue the struggle against the Modi government which is intent on enriching companies and impoverishing workers.
