By Dr. Gyan Pathak
The Nation Convention of Workers and Farmers scheduled to be held on July 29 at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, is set to decide to intensify their protests against PM Narendra Modi led Union Government’s policies, which the workers and farmers allege to be anti-worker, anti-farmers.
The joint platform of the 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) had announced it on May 30. They not only had issued a statement that the convention would declare the future course of joint coordinated struggles and the action plan for intensifying independent, issue-based and united struggles until all their demands were achieved, but also had started for the success of the convention in the right earnest.
Central Trade Unions, farmers unions, scheme workers associations, bank and insurance employees’ associations and many others have been organizing preparatory programmes across the country to make the convention a success.
The Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has already announced its series of nationwide agitation programme against implementation of the four labour codes. They said that their campaign would begin from July 29 itself after the convention. They have already decided a nationwide ‘jail bharo’ movement on August 10. Joint state-level and district-level conventions of workers and farmers will be held across the country through August, September and October. On October 6, scheme workers would gather in Delhi for a “Delhi Chalo” rally. One-day token strike would be organized in November across the manufacturing and allied industrial plants in northern, central and pan-India sectors. CITU has said that it would approach the other central trade unions for a joint call, but would be fully prepared to stage the protest independently.
The last National Convention of workers and farmers was held on January 2026 that had decided the nationwide workers and farmers strike of February 12. July 29 convention will be the first after implementation of all the four labour codes on May8-9, and notification of VB G RAM G on May 11. Though the decision to organize national convention was taken on May 13, the date was announced on May 30.
Apart from their demand of withdrawing the four labour codes, they have demanded a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) at C2+50 per cent with assured procurement of crops, a statutory minimum wage, the right to employment, and a comprehensive farm loan waiver. They have also bee opposing electricity sector privatization, the proposed Seed Bill, implementation of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act 2013, and free trade agreements which they believe will harm both agriculture and industry. They have also alleged that the Centre’s economic approach has weakened federalism, democratic institutions, secular values and country’s economic sovereignty.
The National Convention will also discuss the concerns over restrictions on the right to protest in the light of increasing police crackdown on workers, trade union leaders, activists and even students. They have alleged that democratic dissent was increasingly being criminalized.
BSNL Employees Union has also decided to participate in the National Convention. Their Central Executive Committee has unanimously resolved to extend full solidarity and support to the historic joint movement.
All India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF) in a statement has said if the National Convention resolves to launch a nationwide movement against power sector privatization, anti-labour policies and anti-farmer laws, electricity engineers and employees across the country will participate with full commitment and unity.
Many public sector employees’ unions and organisations under centre and sates have also been preparing to participate in the convention.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organization of about 500 farmers’ unions have already threatened to begin protest if the Union Government fails to ensure adequate supply of fertilizers for Kharif Crops, while it is being sold in the black market. They have threatened to start protest against rising process and black marketing of urea, diesel and cooking gas. SKM has urged the farmers that if Centre will India-US FTA, they should be ready to hold massive protest the very next day.
SKM has said that they will decide on the future course of agitation on July 29, stating “SKM will coordinate with all other sections including workers, agricultural workers, students, youth, and others fighting against anti-people policies to extend mutual support and solidarity and build broad unity among working people.” One important thing is that SKM has supported students’ demand of sacking Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan.
All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has also announced to participate in the Convention and called for the intensification of nationwide farmers’ struggles to bring the burning issues of farmers to the forefront of the nations. They have already called for nationwide protest on August 10.
Reports are pouring in from across the states about the preparation of workers and farmers to take part in the National Convention of July 29 and to intensify their struggle against Centre’s anti-farmer and anti-worker policies. Thousands of workers and farmers representatives are expected to participate in the Convention. (IPA Service)
