New Delhi: The joint platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations will observe January 31 as “A Day of Betrayal”, in support of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), to protest against the Union government for not fulfilling the demands of farmers since the repeal of the farm laws.On December 9, 2021 – after one year and 14 days of the farmers’ protests – the SKM, an umbrella of over 40 farm unions, formally ended the physical agitation after the Narendra Modi government agreed on all pending demands of protesters. However, the farmer unions have been protesting against the Union government for not meeting their demands since it scrapped the controversial farm laws.This was evident during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab when several farmer unions, including BKU Krantikari (Phool), protested at district headquarters with “Go Back Modi” signs, against non-fulfillment of their demands.“Unfortunately, the government seems to be dithering on the promises made to the SKM in writing, such as formation of a committee to look into the question of legal guarantee for MSP for agricultural produce, withdrawal of Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, sacking of Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, the alleged perpetrator of Lakhimpur Kheri atrocity etc. Narendra Tomar, the agricultural minister, to salvage the image of the prime minister as having buckled before the rock-like resolve of the farmers, shamelessly said “we can always enact the laws again”.Therefore, the decision to observe 31 January as ‘A Day of Betrayal’ is correct and this government needs to be told that their act of betrayal will not go unnoticed,” the central trade unions said.“We call upon our unions all over India to extend their solidarity support in all possible manner for observing January 31 as ‘black day’.”The 10 CTUs include the Congress-backed INTUC, Left’s CITU and AITUC and others like AIUTUC, TUCC, HMS, SEWA, LPF, AICCTU and UTUC.
