CITU stages protest against Budget, calls it ‘anti-poor’

The State Committee of Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) and Himachal Kisan Sabha today staged a protest against the Union Budget outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The protesters termed it an ‘anti-people’, ‘anti-labour’ and ‘anti-farmer’ Budget.

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During the protest, hundreds of people associated with CITU and the Himachal Kisan Sabha raised slogans against the Central Government and burnt the copies of the Budget. Similar, protests were held in every district and block of the state.

Vijender Mehra, state president, CITU, said the Budget only benefits capitalists. He alleged that the Central Government had aligned itself entirely with capitalists, stripping the common people of economic resources and handing them over to the rich.

“Over the last 15 years, the profits of capitalists have reached the highest levels, while workers’ wages have declined even below pre-Covid levels. The government has already privatised many public sector enterprises worth crores, including sensitive strategic Defence sectors. The Budget opens the door for the privatisation of nearly all public sector assets, such as banks, insurance, railways, airports, ports, transport, gas pipelines, electricity, warehouses and roads,” he said.

He added that over the past five years, the Central Government has continuously reduced taxes for capitalists, thus providing them with significant relief, while cutting the Budget for workers and welfare programmes.

CITU also warned the government that a massive state-level protest will be held in Shimla in March.

Chamba: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a massive protest in Chamba against the recently announced Union Budget, terming it as ‘anti-poor’. Anganwadi workers, mid-day meal workers, ASHA workers, and employees from various institutions participated in the demonstration, raising their voices under the CITU banner.

The protesters expressed strong resentment against the Budget, accusing the Central Government of favouring the middle class while ignoring the needs of the poor. Addressing the gathering, CITU district secretary Sudesh Thakur criticised the government’s policies. She said while relief was provided to the middle class, those struggling for basic necessities were completely neglected.

She highlighted that despite the government’s claims of empowering women, the Budget fails to provide any positive measures for workers in crucial fields such as Anganwadi, ASHA and mid-day meals. She added that the lack of wage hikes for these workers, despite the rising inflation, has further worsened their financial situation.

Thakur also condemned the government for not implementing any concrete measures to control inflation, adding that the economic policies have divided the country into two sections — one favouring wealthy capitalists and the other comprising underprivileged individuals struggling to make ends meet.

CITU vowed to continue its protest until the government addresses the concerns of marginalised workers.