Central Budget has undermined agricultural sector and rights of workers, say union leaders

Protest against BJP-led Union Budget by farmers' associations and labour unions due to anti-people economic policies and sector weakening measures.

The Union Budget presented by the BJP-led Central government has undermined the agricultural sector and rights of workers, said leaders of farmers’ associations, labour unions, and the people from all walks of life.

In a protest against the Union Budget, Samyukta Kisan Morcha and workers’ union JAC organised a rally from Ambedkar statue in front of the Collectorate to Church Centre on Wednesday. Later, they burnt the copies of the budget.

Chunduri Ranga Rao, district convener of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, who presided over the meeting held on this occasion, spoke against the anti-people economic policies introduced by the BJP-led government.

V. Balakotayya, Prakasam district general secretary of Kaulu Rythu Sangham, said, “The Union budget was against all sections of the people in the country. The budget was favourable only to corporate forces, it will weaken the agricultural sector and employment guarantee scheme.”

Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) head Rashtra Rajasekhar said that this was a completely anti-people budget. He said that unemployment was increasing in the country. He questioned the Centre about the guarantee of one million jobs per year. He further said that the budget allows 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) into the insurance sector. This would weaken the sector. The businesses of global insurers would grow at the cost of domestic players, he added.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Prakasam district secretary Kalpana, meanwhile, said that there was no provision in the budget either for scheme workers, ASHA workers, anganwadi workers or unorganised sector workers.