The Industrial Strike of today (20.7.2018) on the justified demands of the workers & employees of Delhi was a thunderous success. The strike call was given by 11 Central Trade Unions (INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC, LPF, MEC) against the anti-labor & anti-people policies of both the Kejriwal government of Delhi as well as the Modi government at the centre. Main demands of the strike were:

1. Pay the minimum wages as declared by the Delhi Government.

2. Ensure safety and security of workers at work place.

3. Regularise the Contract Workers.

4. Start the registration of Construction Workers.

5. Stop attacking the livelihood and harassment of the self employed street vendors.

6. Stop ignoring the Trade Unions and honor the commitments made to them.

7. Start Recruitment in MCD and other departments of Delhi government.

8. Implement the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission.

9. Withdraw the provision of Fixed Term Employment.

In Narela industrial area of Delhi workers started their picketing from 7.00 am onwards and around 10,000 workers participated as the day progressed. In Badli around 8000 workers participated in the strike action as the industrial area remain closed. In Rajasthani industrial area there was a worker’s march with 3000 participation and overall 12,000 workers participated in the strike. The same number for Wazirpur industrial area was 2500 and 10,000 respectively. In GT Karnal road industrial area the workers demonstration had participation of 1000 and strike participation was 5000. (Courtesy : Press report)

New Delhi, Jul 19 : An all-party delegation from Kerala, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today over issues related to the state’s development was “not satisfactory”.
The delegation met the prime minister in the Parliament complex and submitted a memorandum raising various issues including reiterating the demand for a rail coach factory, enhancing allocation of food grains for the state, and a relief package in view of the damage caused by the ongoing monsoon there.
“We feel that the response with regard to the matters concerning Kerala was not satisfactory,” Vijayan told reporters here.
State Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, who was also part of the team, expressed disappointment and said that the delegation failed to get any favourable response from the prime minister.
“Until reaching here, our hopes for a coach factory at Palakkad was alive. But now it was clear the Centre has no such plans. We explained the need for such a project to the Prime Minister,” Vijayan said.
The delegation also sought enhancement of the allocation of food grains for the non-priority sector to 11.22 lakh million tonnes (MT) per annum by providing additional allocation of 72,3476.88 MT of food grains to Kerala as the state has very low food grain production and mainly depends on Centre and other states.
“The prime minister said that it was not possible to enhance the allocation of food grains for the state alone. He said Kerala will get its part as per the Food Security Act,” Vijayan said.
The all-party team also demanded that Angamali-Sabari railway line be constructed to facilitate those visiting Sabarimala temple.
The delegation was informed that the Centre would take appropriate steps to tackle the monsoon woes of the state.
“Kerala is experiencing heavy rains leading to the catastrophic loss to life and property in 965 villages. Over 30,000 individuals have been relocated, 90 lives have been lost, crop loss in 10,000 hectare and 350 houses have been fully damaged and over 9,000 houses are partially damaged,” the delegation told Modi in the memorandum.
The state leaders urged the Centre to consider deputing a central team at the earliest to assess the damages caused by the ongoing southwest monsoon.
The delegation has also asked the Centre not to sell its stake in the Hindustan Newsprint Limited, a subsidiary of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL).
Earlier, the Kerala legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to retain the unit under public sector.
It has also informed the prime minister that the state was willing to take over its assets through mutual discussions.
However, the delegation failed to get a favourable decision in this regard also, Chennithala said.
The delegation also comprised state Congress chief M M Hassan, state ministers P Thilothaman, Kadannapalli Ramachandran, G Sudhakaran, MPs E T Mohammed Basheer, Jose K Mani (Kerala Congress-Mani) among others.
The chief minister had earlier expressed displeasure over the manner in which his previous requests to meet the prime minister were turned down.
Vijayan was allegedly denied an appointment on June 21 to meet Modi for the fourth time in a row.(PTI)

CPI(M) PB issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the brutal attack on Swami Agnivesh in Pakur, Jharkhand. The guilty are identified as belonging to the BJP Yuva Morcha. As has now become the norm, the BJP state government can be expected to treat them with great leniency. The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that proper and adequate medical attention be provided to Swami Agnivesh and that the culprits be punished immediately.

This attack on Swami Agnivesh happened despite the severe indictment of mob violence by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court observations on mob lynching have held up a mirror to the Prime Minister and the BJP Central Government under whose watch such crimes are being committed and private armies are allowed to rule the roost. The very fact that the culprits, even when identified, go unpunished speaks volumes of the patronization provided by RSS/BJP to them.

Following the Supreme Court verdict, the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that a comprehensive law be enacted in the current session of Parliament to meet the apex court direction: “It is the duty of the State to ensure maintenance of law and order so as to protect secular ethos and prevent mobocracy.” (CPI(M) Press release)