Calling the Government’s announcement to repeal the three contentious farm laws a big success of the agitating farmers, General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Amarjeet Kaur on Saturday said the long battle has once again proved that ‘Jan Andolan’ has the strength to bow down the policy makers. “If farmers can compel the Government to roll back its decision, why can’t labourers do it,” she adding asking the trade unions leaders to mount pressure on the policy makers and stop them from privatisation. She also urged the all the trade unions in the country to fight similar battle against the Government to safeguard interests of the workers and labourers. She was speaking at the at the inaugural function of the Parwana Bhawan Complex named after Com H L Parwana here on Kingsway in presence of General Secretary of All India Bank Employees Association- AIBEA - C H Venkatachalam; former MP and President of the AITUC Com Ramendra Kumar and office-bearers of the other trade unions. Amarjeet Kaur alleged the current Government of selling national assets only to benefit handful of the corporate houses. “Big organisations like Railways, public sector banks, insurance companies, ports and airports are being sold by the Government. This will lead to a situation similar to that of in the pre-independence phase in India wherein workers and employees had no rights.

 

The Government is also making amendments in the laws by way of which it is giving free hand to the corporate to take hold of public sector enterprises,” she said. Highlighting the unprecedented mass layoffs during the recent coronavirus outbreak, Amarjeet Kaur said only public sector enterprises could stand behind their staff members during the tough time. Besides, she said, the people sitting at the helm of affairs are making all possible attempts to suppress the voice of people who are opposing them. “This has necessitated the need for intensified agitation to safeguard the rights of workers and employees,” she said. Remembering Com H L Parwana, Com Tarakeshwar Chakraborti, Com A B Bardhan and Com Prabhat Kar, Amarjeet Kaur further said that all the leaders were highly influenced by the freedom struggle and were always ready to serve people. “We should also take pledge to follow the similar path and work for the rights of workers and employees,” she said.