Jammu, In a notable show of solidarity, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and president of the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), led a protest in Jammu city. The demonstration was held in support of the Indian farmers currently agitating for a law that would guarantee a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, among other demands.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest was aligned with the India-wide strike called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), in collaboration with various trade unions and federations. The demonstrators, voicing their opposition to the policies of the Modi government and chanting pro-farmer and pro-worker slogans, gathered outside Maharaja Hari Singh Park for a peaceful protest. However, their attempt to march as a rally was thwarted by a significant police presence.

Tarigami highlighted the context of the farmers’ renewed agitation, referencing the lengthy struggle last year that led to the government’s retraction of three controversial farm laws. Despite this victory, he pointed out, the government has yet to fulfill the promises made to the farmers, prompting their return to protest.

The CPI-M leader also criticized the government’s push towards the privatization of the public sector and the changes in labor laws, stating that these measures have adversely affected workers across industrial sectors due to rising inflation and stagnant wages. He condemned the government’s authoritarian approach in dealing with these issues, reminding that India is a democracy where such grievances should be addressed through dialogue and consensus.

Tarigami’s leadership in the protest underscores the widespread concern among various sections of society over the treatment of farmers and workers in India, signaling a call for more inclusive and fair governance policies.