Left-affiliated unions to hold stir against Centre on Aug 9

The farmers are in bad shape as they are not getting remunerative prices for their produce. Even the loan waiver was unsatisfactory. Our farmers will march to the zilla parishad and agitate there. ASHOK DHAWALE, president, All India Kisan Sabha

MUMBAI: Unions affiliated with Left parties have planned a statewide agitation in Maharashtra on August 9 in protest of the Narendra Modi-led Central government’s policies. In Mumbai, members of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) will march from Churchgate station to Hutatma Chowk.

The unions alleged that the Modi government, in the past four years, pursued policies that have all been detrimental to the working class and the farmers.

Mahendra Singh, president, Janwadi Hawkers Sabha, affiliated to CITU, said, “There is widespread discontent among the people. This government has tailor-made all policies for the rich class, leaving the working class and the farmers in the lurch. This agitation is to tell the government that we had enough and that it should quit now.”

Singh said that August 9 was selected as it is the anniversary of the Quit India movement of 1942 when Mahatma Gandhi gave a clarion call to the erstwhile British rulers to quit India.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a prominent union of farmers which organised a massive protest in March from Nashik to Mumbai where more than 30,000 farmers participated, will also be an active participant in the agitation.

Ashok Dhawale, president, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), said, “The farmers are in bad shape as they are not getting remunerative prices for their produce. Even the loan waiver was unsatisfactory. Our farmers will march to the zilla parishad and agitate there.”

The Left unions claimed that more than one lakh people will participate in the agitation and court arrest.