Union demands release of jailed labourers ahead of June 2 protests

The Joint Labour Front of rural and farm labour organisations convened a state meeting today at the Desh Bhagat Memorial Hall, chaired by Gurnam Singh Daud, state secretary of Rural Labour Sabha. During the meeting, it was announced that anti-oppression protests will take place across Punjab on June 2.

Workers under the leadership of the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee, were forcibly arrested while attempting to assert their rights to land at Bir Aishwan in Sangrur. Key leaders in attendance included Tarsem Peter, state president of the Pendu Mazdoor Union Punjab; Gian Saidpuri, state press secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha; Harmesh Malri, state finance secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union; and Vijay Bhikhi, tate vice president of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, Punjab, among others.

The leaders demanded the unconditional release of the arrested laborers, both men and women, and called for the distribution of additional lands acquired under the Land Delimitation Act to landless labourers and farmers.

They expressed concern over the government's increasingly ruthless attitude towards the reasonable and rightful demands of labourers. Instead of addressing these demands, the Bhagwant Mann government has resorted to coercion, they claimed. The labor leaders noted that for the past three years, the Aam Aadmi Party government, particularly the Chief Minister, has repeatedly failed to meet with labor organizations despite scheduling multiple meetings. This behavior, they argue, demonstrates that the current government is anti-labor. A follow-up meeting is scheduled in Jalandhar on June 4 to strategise the next steps in their struggle for workers' rights.