Seeking agreed demands execution, Dalit farm workers' rally lathicharged in Punjab

By Harsh Thakor*
A 10,000 strong contingent of Dalit agricultural workers under the leadership of the common front of rural and farm labour organizations, Sanjha Morcha Sangrur, thronged near the chief minster’s residence in Sangrur-Patiala highway. For over a month the organisations forming part of the front had prepared for the event.
One of the largest Dalit worker gatherings in recent times in Punjab, as soon as the contingent of labourers proceeded towards Kothi to knock at the door of chief minister's house, the police unleashed lathicharge upon them. Many men and women were injured; many lost their turbans, due to which the anger in the minds of the workers escalated.

Threatened by the anger of the workers, the chief minister agreed to meet a panel of labour leaders on December 21 in Chandigarh, after which the blockade was lifted.
Agricultural workers converged in the form of caravans from all over Punjab to ring a bell at the chief minister's house for the implementation of the agreed demands of and for concrete settlement of the demands. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann was away in Gujarat for election campaign.
Those who addressed the landless workers under the Patiala Bridge included President of the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee Mukesh Malaudh, General Secretary of tge Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union Punjab Lakhvir Longowal, State General Secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union Lachhman Singh Savewala, state leader of tge Mazdoor Mukti Morcha Punjab Makhan Singh Ramgarh, state leader of the Kull Hind Khet Mazdoor Union Bhup Chand Channon, leader of the Dehati Mazdoor Union Prakash Nandgarh, leader of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha Gulzar Gaurian, and state president of the Pendu Mazdoor Union Tarsem Pete.
Condemning the police lathicharge they said that the Bhagwant Singh Mann government is treading the same anti-labour policies as the previous governments. They stated that the government is paying no heed to the accepted demands of rural agricultural labourers due to caste-based discrimination and is not ready to offer any concrete solution to their burning emands.
Other leaders of the joint front of rural and farm labour organizations who addressed the rally included Kashmir Singh Ghugshore, Zora Singh Nasrali, Krishan Chauhan, Paramjit Mudki, Bikkar Singh Hathoa, Pargat Singh Kalajhar, Mithu Singh Ghudda, Paramjit Kaur Longowal, Devi Kumari, Harbhagwan Singh Moonak, Dharamveer Harigarh, Lal Singh Dhanula, and Avtar Singh Rasulpur.
The leaders said that after the chief minister cancelled the meeting scheduled with the Mazdoor Morcha on October 3, they were not given time for the next meeting. There was no agreement at a meeting held by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. The apathy instilled anger in the rural workers against the AAP government and the chief minister.
They demanded that the employment of the labourers should be guaranteed for the whole year and the daily wages should be stipulated to Rs 700; one third portion of the panchayat lands should be allotted to the labourers at a cheap price; the ownership rights of the Nazul lands should be given to the Dalits; plots should be given to the homeless and the needy; loans should be waived; compensation should be given to suicide victims; old age, widow, disabled pension should be increased to Rs 5,000, age; coercion on Dalits should be eradicated; and cases registered during the struggles should be lifted.
The Indian Federation of Trade Unions issued a statement condemning the lathicharge.
---
*Freelance journalist who has covered mass movements around India and frequently toured Punjab

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

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.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog