Port Blair, Nov. 28: In support of the nation-wide 3-day Kisan Mazdoor Mahapadav organized by central trade unions and Samyukta Kisan Morcha from 26th to 28th November, 2023 before Raj Bhavans in state capitals and at important places against the anti-farmer and anti-mazdoor policies of the Modi government, CITU Andaman & Nicobar State Committee has organized a Mass Dharna (Mahapadav) at Tiranga Park, Port Blair today (28.11.2023) afternoon. Hundreds of workers from different parts of Port Blair and South Andaman areas participated in the Mass Dharna. 

Addressing the participants in the progrmame, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU Andaman & Nicobar State Committee briefly explained the issues on which the nation-wide programme has been organized. He said that the Modi government is pursuing anti-labour policies ever since it came to power in 2014.  He criticized the Administration for not increasing the minimum wages for the workers in Andaman & Nicobar after it was due from 1.1.2023. Referring to the recent gains by the daily rated workers, he said that it was due to the protracted struggle by the CITU and its unions that the daily rated mazdoors have been extended the benefit of 1/30th of pay plus DA.  

Speaking on the occasion, D. Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU State Committee gave a detailed account of various anti–worker and anti-farmer measures undertaken by the BJP government at the centre during the last 9 years. He said that whatever rights the workers enjoyed till now are being taken away by the Modi government. He said that through the Electricity Amendment Act, 2022, the Modi government is trying to withdraw all the concessions presently availed by the farmers and said that it will pave way for complete privatization of power sector, leading to job loss to employees of the Electricity Department in A & N Islands too. He said that government is resorting to privatization of all the public sector undertakings in the country.   He also criticized the government for silencing those who oppose the BJP government and referred to the recent decision of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration to restrict the protests like mass dharna, mass demonstration, rally, etc. and said that such anti-people measures will be fought with in the coming days.  

Senior leader D. Laxman Rao, CITU leaders P. Sathyapal, M. Yugandar, Anand Rajan also addressed the participants in the Mahapadav (Mass Dharna). R. Surendran Pillai, President, CITU State Committee presided over the programme.   

At Diglipur, in support of the nation-wide 3 day Mahapadav, CITU Diglipur Zonal Committee organized a mass dharna at Diglipur which was led among others by Sunil Bepari and Barun Biswas.