Agartala, December 9: The CPIM-affiliated trade union CITU on Monday staged a massive protest rally in Agartala, targeting the ruling BJP-led government in Tripura over its alleged failure to deliver on promises made during the 2018 assembly elections.
The rally, led by former MP and CITU state general secretary Sankar Prasad Datta, saw a large participation of workers and trade union members.
Datta alleged that the BJP came to power by misleading people with false assurances, particularly regarding employment under the MGNREGA scheme, however, even after 6.5 years in power, the government failed to fulfill its promises.
“The BJP promised to increase annual man-days from 100 to 200 and ensure a daily wage of at least Rs 340. However, the government has done nothing to fulfill these commitments,” he said.
Datta further stated that CITU is determined to pressurize the government to address their demands or face strong consequences. “The workers will not remain silent if their rights are ignored,” he warned.
The rally, which commenced from the CITU office at Office Lane, moved through the main streets of Agartala, with participants chanting slogans in support of their demands.
The protest culminated in front of the Labour Directorate, where a seven-member delegation of CITU submitted an 11-point memorandum to Additional Labour Commissioner Biswajit Paul.
Among the key demands raised were also the rollback on the rising prices of essential commodities, providing health safety equipments for cleaning workers, monthly pension of Rs 10,000 for all workers after the age of 60 and simplification of construction work processes beside review the benefits and welfare of laborers especially engaged with tea estates and brick kilns.
The rally underscored growing discontent among workers over the state’s economic conditions and the lack of progress on welfare measures promised by the BJP government.
The memorandum, containing the detailed charter of demands, highlighted the urgent need for the government to address workers’ grievances and improve the state’s labor welfare system.
This protest comes at a time when discontent among trade unions and labor groups across the state appears to be gaining momentum, raising concerns for the ruling party ahead of upcoming political challenges.
