Over 1,500 arrested for staging road roko against Centre
The Hindu
Over 1,500 trade union members arrested in Madurai protest against Modi government's policies, demanding lower prices and welfare benefits.
Over 1,500 members of various trade unions were arrested when they staged a road roko near Kattabomman statue junction on Friday.
The protest was part of the nation-wide strike call given by various trade unions against the decade-old ‘anti-people’ policies of Narendra Modi Government in the Centre.
Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan inaugurated the protest. During his brief address, he said that the Modi Government was using drones to drop tear gas shells against its own farmers who are protesting in Delhi seeking minimum support price of their produce.
He also flayed the Modi Government for allowing the nation’s 45% of the wealth to remain with 1% of the affluent people. The protest was led by the Labour Progressive Federation leader C. Karunanidhi.
The agitators demanded the Centre to check the rising price of essential commodities, to disburse the benefits of various welfare boards without delay and to bring down the prices of petrol and diesel.
Among other demands are immediate commencement of construction of AIIMS in Madurai.
Railway land should not be sold to private entities. The Government should revoke the amendment to 44 labour laws which were made into four codes.