Several labor organizations joined forces in Jhunjhunu district on Wednesday, staging a significant protest march under the banner of the United Front to voice strong opposition against the four newly-introduced labor laws. The demonstration gained additional momentum as members of the All India Kisan Mahasabha joined the protest, amplifying their own demands for agricultural reforms that they claim the Central government had previously agreed to implement but has failed to deliver.
March Route and Protest Activities
The protestors assembled under the United Front banner and began their march from Dhaka Bhawan, moving strategically through Kalyan Circle before finally converging at the district collectorate. Throughout the march, participants raised powerful slogans directly criticizing the Central government's policies and what they perceive as broken promises.
At the district collectorate, the protestors submitted a detailed memorandum outlining their specific demands to the district collector, ensuring their grievances were officially documented and would be forwarded to appropriate government channels.
Political Voices and Farmer Betrayal Allegations
Former Dhod MLA Pema Ram emerged as a prominent voice during the protest, delivering a strong speech where he accused the Central government of reneging on crucial promises made to farmers. These commitments were supposedly made following the withdrawal of three controversial agricultural laws in 2021, which had previously sparked months of widespread protests across the nation.
The unfulfilled promises highlighted by Ram include a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP), comprehensive farm loan waivers, and other significant agricultural reforms that farmers have been demanding for years.
Warning of Escalated Protests
Ram characterized the government's failure to implement these assurances as a profound betrayal of the farming community. He issued a clear warning that if the government continues to ignore their demands, large-scale protests would be initiated anew, potentially mirroring the intensity of the 2020-2021 farmer protests that significantly impacted national politics.
The collaboration between labor organizations and farmer groups in Jhunjhunu signals growing unity among working-class movements in Rajasthan, presenting a strengthened front against policies they believe undermine their rights and economic security.
