Fight for rights, workers told on May Day

Khammam: The trade and labour unions across the districts celebrated the May Day on a grand note on Monday. The district centres were dotted with red flags, while several unions and their members took out rallies and held meetings to mark the day.

In Khammam, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) took out a rally protesting the anti-labour policies of State and Central governments.

Speaking on the occasion, Union state secretary SA Jaleel alleged that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao were ruling like autocrats by adopting anti- labour policies against the working classes.

“Both the governments are trying to suppress the rights of labourers, which they earned after sacrifices of several people, and are trying to amend them to suit the corporate companies,” he criticised. “With the inspiration of May Day, all workers must fight united to protect the rights such as living wage, social security, forming of unions, right to negotiate to bring changes in wage policies and right to strike which the State and Central government are trying to suppress,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, former MLA and the senior CPI leader Puvvada Nageshwar Rao assured of party working for the betterment of working sections. He participated in 131st May Day celebrations organised in various colonies here in Khammam city on Monday and hoisted flags at various centres.

Puvvada alleged due to anti-people policies adopted by both the State and Central governments, many workers in various organisations were unable to get minimum salaries for the hard work they put in without any job guarantee.

He added the governments were arresting those who raise questions for their rights. Similarly, the district secretary of the CPM Ponnam Venkateshwar Rao urged all the workers of various working unions to fight united for protecting their rights. On the occasion, he hoisted the flag here at the party office in Khammam on Monday.

Also, the state secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Potu Prasad said that May 1 was celebrated as ‘Workers Right Day’ to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for protecting the rights of workers in the historic movement held at Chicago city in 1886.

Hoisting the flag on the occasion, Potu Prasad said the AITUC which was formed in 1920, led several movements and fought against the British for freedom along with acquiring the right of eight-hour work a day after the sacrifices of many people.

In Nalgonda, Suryapet and Yadadri, May Day was celebrated by the working class on a grand note by hosting red and trade union flags. Rallies, meetings and flag hoisting marked the occasion. Trade unions affiliated to different political parties including left, ultra-left, centrist and right wing parties participated in the celebrations.

After unfurling the red flags at CPI, CPM offices in respective districts, the leaders of the parties said that ruling classes were ruling the country by driving wedge among people in the name of caste and religion.

They said with the inspiration of May Day in several countries, revolutionary governments were formed. Coming down heavily on the Modi government, the left leaders said the Centre was protecting the interest of corporate companies and bank looters.

Commenting on state government, they said Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao implementing anti-worker and anti-people policies.