Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has announced nationwide agitations to protest against the BJP-led Narendra Modi government’s “anti labour practices” on the 20th of this month.

BMS announced during its Kendriya Karya Samiti (central executive committee) meeting held in Gujarat’s Ambaji town that it has asked all its unions to lead agitations against the government and that it is reconsidering its participation in this month’s Indian Labour Conference.

BMS general secretary Vrijesh Upadhyay announced in a statement that the organization has asked all its unions to observe 20th February as ‘Black Day’ and agitate in all state capitals and at industrial complexes in opposition to the central government’s anti-labour policies.

He said that the government had failed to fulfil promises it had made to labour unions in November last year following a massive rally held by BMS in Delhi. He also warned that BMS will raise these issues during next month’s Pratinidhi Sabha, a meeting of all Sangh Parivar organizations which is held in Nagpur each year.

BMS has also promised to not only boycott the 46th Indian Labour Conference in Delhi, but also protest at the venue in case its demands are not met. The conference is being held this month after a gap of four years and has political significance as PM Narendra Modi himself is going to inaugurate it.

BMS is India’s largest labour union and is more importantly known for being an affiliate of RSS, BJP’s ideological parent. Its demands from the government include increase in honorarium payable to Aanganwadi workers, enhancement of EPS from Rs. 1,000 per month to Rs. 5,000, revival of sick Public Sector Undertakings, hike in income tax exemptions for people earning up to Rs. 5 lakh, and strict implementation of Supreme Court’s ‘equal pay for equal work’ order.

By dhruv