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India's working class is on strike
10 central Trade Unions & Agriworkers Unions are protesting labour deregulation and anti-farmer(pro-corporate) laws that together strike at the welfare of millions of working households(1/n)
#MazdoorKisanStrike is estimated 250million in size
10 central Trade Unions & Agriworkers Unions are protesting labour deregulation and anti-farmer(pro-corporate) laws that together strike at the welfare of millions of working households(1/n)
#MazdoorKisanStrike is estimated 250million in size
Listen to this @newsclickin interview with A.R. Sindhu, national secretary of CITU, where she explains why the response to #MazdoorKisanStrike has been strong, the new labour codes and the worker-peasant alliance that the general strike represents (2/n) https://www.newsclick.in/all-india-strike-struggle-save-democracy
Over 60 lakh rural frontline workers are on strike
These women worked through the pandemic without masks/PPE and in many states WITHOUT PAY. Scheme workers ensured food and nutrition security in rural India, yet they continue to work for paltry 'honorariums' #MazdoorKisanStrike
These women worked through the pandemic without masks/PPE and in many states WITHOUT PAY. Scheme workers ensured food and nutrition security in rural India, yet they continue to work for paltry 'honorariums' #MazdoorKisanStrike
follow this for a sense of just how wide #MazdoorKisanStrike is:unions of teachers, factory workers, bank employees, scheme workers, doctors, textile workers, agri labour, welders, drivers (4/n)
Don't be fooled by (per usual) corporate media blackout! https://www.newsclick.in/live-blog-workers-down-tools-farmers-set-occupy-delhi
Don't be fooled by (per usual) corporate media blackout! https://www.newsclick.in/live-blog-workers-down-tools-farmers-set-occupy-delhi
Across states, the #MazdoorKisanStrike strike has been largely met with repression.
(5/n) https://twitter.com/cpimspeak/status/1331876093121314818?s=20
(5/n) https://twitter.com/cpimspeak/status/1331876093121314818?s=20
The ban on #MazdoorKisanStrike in UP fails to shock. For, it famously 'responded' to Covid-19 by declaring a 'pandemic special' labour holiday allowing 12 hr workdays! (+revoking 35/38 labour laws governing TUs disputes/limits on contractualisation) (6/n) https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-govt-invokes-esma-bans-strikes/story-Hba8l3d9B6khdx1JSgCIqN.html
(7/n) a great explainer by @myopiclenses on why this strike is important. The opposition in Kerala — mostly BJP because BMS (their affiliate Union) isn't on strike — is imploring people to vote out parties promoting "strike culture" #MazdoorKisanStrike https://srpraveen.medium.com/why-indias-workers-are-striking-tomorrow-1dff9f3c04ea
Ans: Ambani.
Ambani's Reliance Industries owns a controlling stake in CNN-News 18. The three farm Bills present a windfall for Reliance that has been investing heavily in agro and food processing franchises.
(8/n)
#MazdoorKisanStrike
KA-CHING https://twitter.com/cnnnews18/status/1331921209131298817?s=21
Ambani's Reliance Industries owns a controlling stake in CNN-News 18. The three farm Bills present a windfall for Reliance that has been investing heavily in agro and food processing franchises.
(8/n)
#MazdoorKisanStrike
KA-CHING https://twitter.com/cnnnews18/status/1331921209131298817?s=21
posters! Tis commonly-held that Indian IT workers are privileged whitecollar, young & averse to unions. But in recent years, #KITU has grown steadily,intervening in disputes,taking up workers' issues &building class consciousness thru political education9/n
Follow @TheVangua_rd
. @KisanSabha protests in BJP-ruled Haryana have been massive. This despite mass illegal detention of leaders of several farmers Unions two days prior to #MazdoorKisanStrike
The govt submits to the Haryana High Court that they were preempting "criminal activity". (10/n)
The govt submits to the Haryana High Court that they were preempting "criminal activity". (10/n)
(11/n) Across the country, Left students unions turned up in solidarity with the #MazdoorKisanStrike worker-peasant struggle.
@SFI_CEC @AISA_tweets AISF
Study and Struggle, comrades. https://twitter.com/MayukhDuke/status/1330126617394483208?s=20
@SFI_CEC @AISA_tweets AISF
Study and Struggle, comrades. https://twitter.com/MayukhDuke/status/1330126617394483208?s=20
(12/n) Authorities appear to have dug trenches on NHighways to prevent marching peasants/farmers and agri workers from reaching Delhi #MazdoorKisanStrike has 300 such outfits protesting pro-corporate farmlaws
Eleventy-elevenazillion news outlets and this being broken on Reddit
Eleventy-elevenazillion news outlets and this being broken on Reddit
(13/n)watch farmers use their tractors to dislodge cementbarricades that stop them from marching to Delhi
#MazdoorKisanStrike
note:this isn't sporadic protest;2day rally ws announced weeks in advance.TUs served strike notice. So,govt had time to prepare to allow peaceful protest
#MazdoorKisanStrike
note:this isn't sporadic protest;2day rally ws announced weeks in advance.TUs served strike notice. So,govt had time to prepare to allow peaceful protest
(14/n) and more visuals that likely won’t make the news?
I reiterate this govt had advance notice (weeks) of farmers & TradeUnion strike action.
It chose to digup/block roads -and arrest leaders- rather than allow farmers to protest legislation that threatens their livelihoods
I reiterate this govt had advance notice (weeks) of farmers & TradeUnion strike action.
It chose to digup/block roads -and arrest leaders- rather than allow farmers to protest legislation that threatens their livelihoods
(15/n)
The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee - a panIndia umbrella organisation of >300 farmers right groups - says it has finally been "allowed" to enter Delhi. Farmers have had to fight for even their right to peacefully protest. Their ongoing March to Delhi
The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee - a panIndia umbrella organisation of >300 farmers right groups - says it has finally been "allowed" to enter Delhi. Farmers have had to fight for even their right to peacefully protest. Their ongoing March to Delhi
Needs to be said
Though this won't stop the (g)liberal commentariat from its quarterly obituaries to the Left. Movements like these — or for that matter general strikes involving all (but one) central trade Unions — take massive organisational work
16/n https://twitter.com/mallucomrade/status/1332552437165486083?s=20
Though this won't stop the (g)liberal commentariat from its quarterly obituaries to the Left. Movements like these — or for that matter general strikes involving all (but one) central trade Unions — take massive organisational work
16/n https://twitter.com/mallucomrade/status/1332552437165486083?s=20
iconic images.
#MazdoorKisanStrike
(random thought: you know those stories of how militaries refuse to "control" protestors because they feel they're on the wrong side...why does this never happen in India? After all, most Jawans are Kisans, aren't they?)
17/n
#MazdoorKisanStrike
(random thought: you know those stories of how militaries refuse to "control" protestors because they feel they're on the wrong side...why does this never happen in India? After all, most Jawans are Kisans, aren't they?)
17/n
Now THIS is what real solidarity looks like.People forget that the vast urban informal sector actually comprises migrant workers whose families are still in agriculture
A defining feature of #MazdoorKisanStrike is this worker-peasant solidarity
Hammer and the sickle
(18/n) https://twitter.com/amilwithanl/status/1333374407901732874
A defining feature of #MazdoorKisanStrike is this worker-peasant solidarity
Hammer and the sickle
(18/n) https://twitter.com/amilwithanl/status/1333374407901732874
Braving brutal repression during the day,lakhs of farmers've spent at least 4 cold winter nights outside Delhi denied permission to enter the capital to protest new farm laws (protest announced weeks in advance)
Meanwhile, NERO
19/n
#FarmersProtest
https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/133341697211403488 https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1333416972114034688
Meanwhile, NERO
19/n
#FarmersProtest
https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/133341697211403488 https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1333416972114034688
Step 1: farmers are uneducated so don't know what's good for them
2: they've abandoned farms, they can't be farmers
3: they're Sikh separatists
4: they're Pakistan-sponsored fundamentalists
(swell cause nexttime, more people will see thru this) 20/n https://twitter.com/Hindutva__watch/status/1333813041322885122?s=20
2: they've abandoned farms, they can't be farmers
3: they're Sikh separatists
4: they're Pakistan-sponsored fundamentalists
(swell cause nexttime, more people will see thru this) 20/n https://twitter.com/Hindutva__watch/status/1333813041322885122?s=20
Here's a good video-primer on why farmers are striking: what are these THREE farm legislations, what do they mean for farmers, who loses out/benefits?
@newsclickin has been doing a stellar job reporting on this agitation. Follow them for more.
(21/n) https://twitter.com/newsclickin/status/1333812381831491584?s=20
@newsclickin has been doing a stellar job reporting on this agitation. Follow them for more.
(21/n) https://twitter.com/newsclickin/status/1333812381831491584?s=20
As farmers spent yet another cold night in the open on Delhi's outskirts,they surely feel the warmth of solidarity extended by Kerala communists in >10,000 locations.Marches organised in every ward by @CPIMKerala counters propaganda that this is marginal/provincial struggle
22/n
22/n
Pan-india solidarity— today's images from Bihar, Jharkhand,TamilNadu,Tripura, Kerala,Maha.THIS is how the left organises:demonstrations in every district,led by @KisanSabha &supported by all left mass orgnsations
Now, unless they're all "misguided" Khalistani separatists...
23/n
Now, unless they're all "misguided" Khalistani separatists...
23/n
“deregulated imperfect markets may become more, not less, imperfect than regulated imperfect markets”
Imp quote from B.Harris-White explains why @ramakumarr urges govt to not throw the baby out with the bathwater! Expand &improve mandis, procurement
24/n https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-perils-of-deregulated-imperfect-agrimarkets/article33216046.ece
Imp quote from B.Harris-White explains why @ramakumarr urges govt to not throw the baby out with the bathwater! Expand &improve mandis, procurement
24/n https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-perils-of-deregulated-imperfect-agrimarkets/article33216046.ece
If you're still following this slightly unwieldy thread,here's a succinct explainer by @fayedsouza on why>1.5 lakh farmers are spending their 8th night in Delhi's biting cold,amidst a pandemic that by all accounts is hardest to control in the winter
25/n https://twitter.com/fayedsouza/status/1334923085741375488?s=20
25/n https://twitter.com/fayedsouza/status/1334923085741375488?s=20
This is A.R. Sindhu, national secretary of CITU, one of India's 11 central TradeUnions, speaking at the farmers' protest at Delhi’s Tikri border
Always gives me goose bumps to watch her or comrade Hemalatha —CITU's first woman president— take the stage
26/n
#workerpeasantunity
Always gives me goose bumps to watch her or comrade Hemalatha —CITU's first woman president— take the stage
26/n
#workerpeasantunity
