By Dr. Gyan Pathak
Workers and farmers of India are again preparing to intensify their united protests against the policy of BJP led NDA government under PM Narendra Modi, what they perceive to be anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-people. Future course joint struggle of workers and farmers will be decided in the National Convention of workers and farmers to be held on July 29, 2026 at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.
In a significant show of solidarity, the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) had announced it on May 30, and thereafter, they have immediately started their preparation for the occasion. Their statement read, “The convention will declare the future course of joint and coordinated struggles. … the action plan for intensifying independent, issue-based and united struggles … until all demands are achieved.”
The convention is expected to draw thousands of representatives from across the country and is being projected as a major step toward building a coordinated nationwide movement against what the organisations describe as the Centre’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-people” policies. Apart from workers and farmers, agricultural labourers will also participate in the convention in large numbers.
CTUs and SKM also intend to organise even all India general strikes, such as they have done on February 12, which was largest ever strike of workers in the country. It is most likely that they may decide for multi-days general strike of workers and farmers. Their chief demand was withdrawal of the four controversial labour codes.
However, within a week after the state election results on May 4, the government notified rules to implement Labour Codes. The government have also notified the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB G RAM G) 2025 on May 11 which will be implemented from July 1 when it will replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005.
Farmers are chiefly concerned about the rising input cost for agriculture. SKM has criticised the government policy that works against the farmers and they said that trade agreements with the foreign countries especially USA and European countries will reduce the Indian farmers only subservient to the global trade structure. Farmers demand for legal guarantee for MSP is yet unmet and also the implementation of the Swaminathan Formula C2+50 per cent for ascertaining the MSP for agriculture produce.
The last National Convention of workers was held on January 2026 that had decided the nationwide workers and farmers strike on February 12. Since the July 29 National Convention will be the first national convention after the notification of final rules under all the four labour codes on May 8-9, and notification of VB G RAM G on May 11.
Only two days after the notifications, the Joint Platform of CTUs and SKM had taken a decision in a joint meeting on May 13 in New Delhi to organise the National Convention of workers and farmers. The announcement of the date of convention on May 30 is therefore significant since it will decide and declare the future joint struggles against Modi government policies, including labour codes and economic policies.
Their demands include a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) at C2+50 per cent with assured procurement, a statutory minimum wage, the right to employment, a comprehensive farm loan waiver, and withdrawal of the four labour codes. They have also been opposing electricity sector privatisation, 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.
Their joint statement alleged that the government has been pursuing policies that favour large corporate interests at the expense of workers, farmers and ordinary citizens. They also alleged that the Centre’s economic approach has weakened federalism, democratic institutions, secular values and the country’s economic sovereignty.
The Joint Platform of CTUs said that the government failed to respond to the concerns raised during the February 12 general strike and remained indifferent to the growing economic hardships faced by large sections of the population.
They said in their statement that fertiliser shortages could affect agricultural output and food security, while higher fuel prices are adding to inflation and increasing household expenses. They accused the government of imposing austerity measures rather than increasing taxation on the wealthiest sections of society. They criticised the handling of the consequences of Iran war on Indian economy, workers, farmers, and common people.
The CTUs and SKM supported the recent protests of workers in the Nation Capital Territory region and criticized the government action against them. The National Convention will discuss the concerns over restrictions on the right to protest in the light of increasing police action against workers, trade union leaders and activists. They demanded withdrawal of the “false cases” filed against labour leaders and social activists. They also alleged that democratic dissent was increasingly being criminalized. (IPA Service)
