Workers of Bengaluru Take to the Streets on May Day
On 1st may, the JCTU (Joint committee of trade unions) held a May day rally in Bengaluru from Town hall to Freedom park despite police restrictions. Workers attended in large numbers, painting the street red with waving flags while shouting slogans. Some of the demands were repealing the anti-worker 4 labour codes, abolishing contract employment, hiking the minimum wage to ₹42,000, paying wages for overtime, among others. The All India Progressive Women’s association also joined demanding laws to address gender pay gaps and improve working conditions for women.
Protest by Arunachal Farmers Against the Siang Dam Project
The SIFF (Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum), and villagers of the Adi people, who would be affected by the dam, began an indefinite dharna on May 23rd in the village of Begging, against the building of the 11,000 MW hydroelectric dam on the Siang River, and its pre feasibility report (PFR). The proposed dam would displace and destroy the lands and livelihood of hundreds of villagers, while also having devastating ecological consequences. The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were also deployed there to subdue the protests. Lawyer and local activist Ebo Mili has been kidnapped by the police.
Protest Against the Brutal Murder of a Dalit Youth
On 17th may, Jayakumar, a dalit youth from Kattaraghatta village in the K.R Pete Taluk was murdered, and his body set on fire by Anil Kumar, a member of the Vokkaliga community. Anil Kumar had been illegally using Jayakumar’s land. On requesting Anil to vacate his land, Anil threatened to burn Jayakumar alive, a threat that Jayakumar had reported to the police. After his death, the police have reportedly colluded with the killer to cover up the matter. The protest occurred on 27th may in K.R Pete, demanding the case be handed over to a special investigations team, and that justice be served.
Struggle for Land by Dalits Continue in Sangrur, Punjab
As many as 125 members of the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC), who were arrested during a march in Sangrur on May 20, Thursday launched an indefinite hunger strike on the jail premises, demanding distribution of 927 acres of erstwhile Jind Riyasa among landless dalits to set up the proposed “Begumpura”. The local Dalit farmers have been struggling to reclaim land and rename the village as Begumpura since many months. AAP government has deployed the police forces to quell these protests.
