Farmers, workers stage dharna in Eluru

Eluru: Protesting against anti-farmer, anti-worker and anti-people policies of the Union government, the farmers and labourers under the joint auspices of CITU, Akhila Bharata Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham, All India Kisan Sabha and Kowlu Rytula Sangham staged a dharna at the Collectorate here on Thursday.

The protesters raised slogans against changes to labour laws, non-provision of support price to crop and failure to increase wage days to agricultural workers. Earlier, the farmers took out a rally from Fire station centre to collectorate where they staged a protest demonstration.

Addressing the dharna, CITU district secretary DNVD Prasad, AP Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham district secretary A Ravi and AP Rythu Sangham district secretary K Srinivas lambasted the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for waging a war against the work force in the country.

While Supreme Court advocated for Rs 18,000 minimum salary for the labour, the Modi government bluntly rejected the same, they alleged. The Central government's crop insurance scheme had become a feast for private companies rather than beneficial to farmers. The government had abrogated 17 labour laws, they lamented. The agitators submitted a memorandum to district revenue officer on the occasion.