Trade unions, farmers associations condemn Centre; stage road roko in southern districts
The Hindu
Trade unions and farmers in southern districts of India stage road blockade protest against government policies and privatization.
A large number of members affiliated to major trade unions led by the Communists, workers from Anganwadi Employees Union and members belonging to the farmers’ associations staged a road blockade agitation in the southern districts on Friday.
Shouting slogans against the Union government and the BJP for its anti-people policies, the agitators demanded withdrawal of numerous draconian rules. Since the Centre favoured a small group of industrialists’, the government had neglected millions of people across the country, they said.
As a result, the online collection of fines for traffic violations had come as a big blow to the common man. The farmers were being attacked by the BJP and it was a shameful act, they said. The trade unions also condemned the BJP for destroying public institutions and giving it to the private players in the field of insurance, health and other major sectors.
The police had a tough time in controlling the protests as the number of people who came to the roads in the major thoroughfares in Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts outnumbered the men in khaki.
Traffic was affected due to the road blockade stir. After courting arrest, the agitators were taken to private marriage halls and let off in the evening, police said.
In Dindigul, Theni, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts, the agitators were arrested and freed in the evening.
The CITU, LPF, HMS, INTUC and representatives from the Anganwadi employees unions joined the agitation in taluks and block levels also.
Political economist Parakala Prabhakar has described the exit poll results as “fudged figures”, saying that those would benefit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) only. “False predictions were given with the sole objective of helping the NDA in rigging during the counting,” alleged Mr. Prabhakar, after releasing a book titled ‘Avineeti Chakravarthi Narendra Modi’ penned by former Minister Vadde Shobanadreeswara Rao, here, on June 2 (Sunday).