The working class in India has been continuously agitating against the neo-liberalisation policy implemented in India starting in 1991 when Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister and Manmohan Singh the Finance Minister. The socialist pattern of society announced by Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime minister, and the building up of a strong Public Sector, an independent foreign policy based on mutual respect and co-ordination – all have been thrown away. Especially after the collapse of the USSR, Indian government, whether Congress ot BJP has started tilting towards the imperialist block headed by United States. After Dr. Manmohan Singh became the Prime minister, with the full support of the political supremo of the Congress and with capitalist experts like Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Minister Chidambaram to guide, the neo-liberal policy is being implemented in an aggressive manner. India is gradually being downgraded as a subordinate ally of the United States. The Joint military – naval exercises, the tilt in foreign policy which may result in antagonizing our long friends like Iran and Sri Lanka, all are indications of the subordinate status of India.

Internally, the neo-liberal policy has hurt the poor the most. Of course, a number of billionaires and millionaires have arisen in the horizon with lacs of crore of rupees at their command. But the condition of the poor has not only not improved, but has become worse. But the Manmohan Singh government is not worried. It has found out methods to artificcially reduce the number of poor in the country. It has changed the standards for poverty in the country, with the format that Rs. 26 is sufficient for a person to live a day! Attacks on the working class are increasing everyday. Hard earned rights are being taken away arbitrarily. Hire and fire has become way of life. Prices have increased many times making life miserable for the have-nots.

It is against this anti-people anti-working class policies that the trade union movement has been organising struggles after struggles. 14 All India Strikes have been organised participated by crore of workers on an increasing rate as can be seen below:

1. 29th November  1991 participated by  more than   one crore

2. 16th June 1992                                                             1.5 crore

3. 9th September  1993                                                   1.5 crore

4. 29th September 1994                                                  2.5 crore

5. 11th December 1998                                                    2.5 crore

6. 11th May 2000                                                             2.5 crore

7. 16th April 2002                                                            2.5 crore

8. 21st May 2003                                                             3.5 crore

9. 24th February 2004                                                   4.0 crore

10.25th September  2005                                              6.5 crore

11.14th December 2006                                                6.5  crore

12.20th August 2008                                                    6.5 crore

13.7th September 2010                                                 6.5 crore

14.28th February 2012                                                 10  crore

The participation in the strikes has been continuously increasing and in the 28th February 2012 strike, it has reached 10 crore, about 10% of the total population. In the latest strike all the Central trade unions together have given the call, which was for the first time after independence.

There is no other way but to continue the struggle against this anti people, anti-worker policies. Victory is ours.