A nationwide agitation by farmers and trade unions on Monday (August 10) saw protesters courting arrest in several states as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Central Trade Unions (CTUs) stepped up their campaign against what they described as “anti-worker” and “anti-farmer” policies of the Union government.

The ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ was organised around a common set of demands, including repeal of the four labour codes, a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce based on the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, and withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill.

The body also demanded a minimum monthly wage of Rs 42,000 for workers, including scheme workers, after accounting for dearness allowance. Other demands included scrapping the VB-G-RAM-G scheme, opposing free trade agreements considered detrimental to farmers and workers, and banning duty-free imports of agricultural commodities.

The protesting organisations also sought immediate implementation of the written assurances given by the Union government on December 9, 2021, following the farmers’ agitation on the borders of Delhi. They demanded Rs 25 lakh compensation and rehabilitation for families of farmers who died by suicide, besides calling for the cancellation of trade agreements with the US and other countries that they said adversely affected agriculture, industry and workers.

The SKM and central trade unions have said the mobilisation is the first phase of a renewed nationwide campaign, with plans to intensify the joint agitation by November. The farmers’ organisation has also announced its intention to revive a nationwide movement on the scale of the farmers’ protest that began five years ago.

In Kerala, CITU General Secretary Elamaram Kareem inaugurated the programme in Kozhikode, while E P Jayarajan led the agitation in Kannur and T P Ramakrishnan inaugurated it in Thiruvananthapuram.

All India Kisan Sabha President Ashok Dhawale joined the protest in Maharashtra, while its Finance Secretary P Krishnaprasad and CITU All India President Sudeep Dutta participated in the Haryana mobilisation.

"The nationwide mobilisation is aimed at building sustained pressure on the Union government to withdraw policies they consider detrimental to the interests of farmers and workers. The campaign would be expanded in the coming months as part of the broader joint struggle," Krishnaprasad said.

The agitation also led to arrests in parts of the Northeast. CITU office bearers, including the Assam state general secretary, were arrested during the programme.

In Tripura, CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, former chief minister Manik Sarkar and CITU state president Manik Dey led the mobilisation in Agartala.

The SKM claimed that nearly 6,000 farmers and working people were arrested in the state capital, while similar civil disobedience programmes were organised at 21 other locations.

Addressing protesters, Chaudhury accused the BJP-led government of failing to meet people’s aspirations and pursuing “anti-people” policies.

“During the past eight and a half years, the people of the state witnessed only rampant corruption at all levels instead of development. A starvation-like situation has been prevailing in the hilly areas of the state due to lack of employment and livelihood. The BJP government has taken away the democratic rights of the people,” he told PTI.

Calling the ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ a movement to “save the country”, Chaudhury warned that the agitation would intensify if the government did not alter its policies.

“If they don’t change policies, massive protests will be organised to topple the government to save the country from the BJP, which has been destroying democratic values,” he said.

Sarkar said the scale of the mobilisation reflected the “depth of public anger” against the government and predicted that the protests would expand. He described the government as “undemocratic, authoritarian, anti-people and isolated from the people”, alleging that it was working in the interests of a small group of power seekers rather than ordinary citizens.

In Guwahati, protesters gathered near the BSNL building in Panbazar and courted arrest. Their demands included repeal of the labour codes, a minimum monthly wage of Rs 26,000 for workers, regularisation of Anganwadi, ASHA and midday meal workers, and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.

CITU state committee general secretary Tapan Sarma said the agitation was aimed at challenging policies that the organisations believe have failed to address unemployment, inflation and labour concerns.

"We are observing a nationwide movement today. The government has failed to control price rise and unemployment and has brought labour codes that violate workers' rights. We also demand financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for every family that lost its home in the Upper Assam floods," Sarma told The Assam Tribune.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, CITU State president T.P. Ramakrishnan inaugurated the trade union’s ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ in front of the General Post Office, with workers and supporters joining the programme.

Telangana also witnessed arrests as thousands of workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and members of the public were detained during protests held under the nationwide call. CITU State President Chukka Ramulu and State General Secretary Paladugu Bhaskar were among those arrested. Similar protests were registered in Tamil Nadu.

The mobilisation also extended to Haryana, where the Mid-Day Meal Workers' Union Haryana, affiliated with CITU, organised a large protest rally in Kurukshetra on August 4. Thousands of workers participated, demanding higher wages, job security and better service conditions. Following the mobilisation, the government invited a union delegation for talks on August 17.

With the SKM and trade unions preparing for a wider campaign in the months ahead, Monday’s arrests and demonstrations marked an attempt to bring farmers’ and workers’ demands together under a common nationwide platform.