Workers’ March to Parliament

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Workers’ March to Parliament

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) congratulates the lakhs of workers, men and women who participated in the `March to Parliament’ on February 23, 2011. This march was called by the Central Trade Unions and national federations of employees. This united protest by all sections of the workers and employees is significant and is a powerful manifestation of the working class demanding the implementation of their five-point charter of demands.

The rally has protested against the failure of the UPA government to curb prices of essential commodities which has eroded the livelihood of the working people. The massive protest is a warning to the Manmohan Singh government not to proceed with the disinvestment of shares in the Public Sector Enterprises. The Central government is selling off vital public assets in the name of disinvestment to Indian and foreign monopolists. This is part of the loot of resources which is going on in the corrupt regime of the UPA government. This protest signals the determination of the working class to oppose the sale of precious public assets cheaply.

While the corporates and big capitalists are allowed free rein to circumvent the law, corner resources, evade taxes and make huge profits, the government turns a blind eye to the gross violations of labour laws which provide limited protection to the workers. The rally has demanded protection of the rights of workers in the unorganized sector and of contract and casual workers.

The massive workers’ demonstration is a display of the united will of the working class movement to fight against the neo-liberal and anti-working class policies of the UPA government. The CPI(M) extends its full support to this united movement.