Trade unions accuse Narendra Modi government of betraying people

NEW DELHI: Trade unions today accused the Narendra Modi government of "betraying" the common people by asking them to bear hardships while doling out "generous sops" to corporate houses.

All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), affiliated to CPI-ML (Liberation), charged the government with pursuing the same economic policies as done by the UPA.

"After assuming power, the Modi government is pursuing the same economic policies as the UPA government. Now in power, Modi is asking people to bear hardships for the nation while continuing to dole out generous sops to corporations," AICCTU National Secretary Rajiv Dimri said.

The AICCTU today staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar on the completion of Modi government's 100 days in office.

"Price hike goes unabated, hoarding has remained beyond control, the hike in railway ticket and freight prices are quite unprecedented and is likely to maintain an upward trend like petrol prices in the future," said Dimri.

The protesters demanded an explanation about "why the promise of good days has turned into bad days" and why the Modi government was behaving like "UPA-III".

AICCTU urged the working class to strengthen and continue the "struggle" against the Modi government, exposing its true colours and "betrayal" of the people.

The Trade Union also appealed to the working class to remain cautious and stand strongly against the "ploy" of the 'Modi Sarkaar' (government) "to divide their unity by divisive politics."

All India Agricultural Labour Association (AIALA) said the first three months and the Budget indicate that the Modi-led government is implementing the policies of the earlier government even more ruthlessly than before.

National General Secretary of AIALA Dhirendra Jha said if good days have come, it is for big corporate houses and not the common people of this country.

He said to "sell off" the public sector, the government has a disinvestment target of Rs 43,000 crore while it has increased the limit of FDI to 49 per cent in the defence sector and 100 per cent in the railways.