Press release of Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan (MASA)
A protest was held supporting the ongoing workers’ movements across the country and denouncing the police repression against them. Protesters strongly condemned the brutal repression of peaceful workers in Gurgaon, Manesar, Noida, and other industrial areas across the country. Attempts are being made to discredit and break the workers’ struggle by blaming “outsiders”, although workers are raising their basic demands—an 8-hour workday, fair overtime pay, weekly holidays, safe working conditions, and a minimum wage of ₹30,000. At the end of the protest, a resolution was adopted that the struggle to protect workers’ rights would continue and that widespread solidarity would be built across the country.
(Translation of Press Release in Hindi)
Press Release
Date: April 19, 2026
Venue: Mini Secretariat, Gurgaon (Haryana)
Protest held in Gurgaon against repression of workers’ movement!
Today, April 19, 2026, a protest was held at the Mini Secretariat, Gurgaon, at the call of Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan (MASA), supporting the ongoing workers’ movements across the country and denouncing the police repression against them. Various workers’ organizations, trade unions, student and youth organizations, and activists working for democratic rights participated in the protest.
The protesters strongly condemned the brutal repression being meted out to workers who are peacefully protesting in Gurgaon-Manesar, Noida, and other industrial areas across the country. Speakers specifically criticized the arrest of over 56 workers—including a large number of women—from Modelma and Richa Global in Gurgaon-Manesar, as well as 350 workers and activists from Noida, and the imposition of serious charges such as attempt to murder, arson, and rioting against them, as unjust. During the demonstration, strong demands were made for the immediate release of the men and women workers arrested in Manesar and Noida, as well as the workers of Inquilabi Mazdoor Kendra and Bigul Mazdoor Sangathan, and for the cancellation of the false cases filed against them.
Addressing the gathering, Munna Prasad of Inquilabi Mazdoor Kendra stated that the adverse effects of the anti-labor labor codes implemented by the central government are now clearly visible. He alleged that due to these policies, employers are forcing workers to work 12-hour days, against which workers’ anger is spontaneously erupting in various industrial areas. They strongly criticized the repression of the movement by the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments.
Mohinder from Bellsonica stated that recent amendments to criminal laws are being used to suppress labor movements. He alleged that basic rights, such as strikes, are being restricted, workers participating in the movement are being imprisoned, and their families are not even allowed to meet them.
Saurabh from CSTU expressed concern over the economic plight of workers amid rising inflation, saying that when workers are demanding a minimum wage of ₹30,000, the government should not hesitate to accept it. He said that the government appears to be siding with capitalists who profit heavily from workers’ labor. Somnath from Jan Sangharsh Manch demanded that repression against workers be immediately stopped, all arrested workers be released, the minimum wage be raised to ₹30,000, and the labour codes be repealed.
The protest also highlighted that the arrests of Inquilabi Mazdoor Kendra workers Shyambir, Harish, and Raju, Belsonica’s Ajit and Pintu Yadav, and Munjal Showa worker Akash, alleging they were conspirators, were a premeditated act. Speakers stated that blaming workers for these incidents was wrong and that an impartial judicial inquiry should be conducted.
The arrests of Bigul Mazdoor workers in Noida were also strongly criticized. Furthermore, the crackdown on trade union leaders, writers, and journalists in various states was described as an attack on democratic rights. Notices were issued to CITU leaders Jai Bhagwan and Vinod for making inflammatory speeches on Facebook, CITU and CPM MPs were prevented from meeting workers’ families, CITU leader Bhuri Singh Yadav was jailed in Firozabad, Gangeshwar Dutt Sharma and other leaders have been placed under house arrest in Noida for a long time, farmer leader and advocate Rupesh Verma remains under police surveillance, and incidents of arrests and detentions of trade union leaders are being reported across the country. This entire situation is against democracy and the rule of law and violates the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
Speakers stated that attempts are being made to discredit and break workers’ movement by blaming “outsiders,” although the movement is focused on basic demands—an 8-hour workday, fair overtime pay, weekly holidays, safe working conditions, and a minimum wage of Rs. 30,000.
The demonstration also highlighted that in the past few months, the contract labor movement in various industrial areas of North India has shown renewed energy and solidarity. Despite this, the arrest of over 350 workers by the governments and their labeling of the movement as a conspiracy is deeply worrying.
The main demands of MASA and other organizations:
* Immediate and unconditional release of all arrested workers and activists
* Withdrawal of false cases
* Stop police repression against labour movements
* An impartial judicial inquiry into the incidents of April 9 and 13–14
* Protection of the constitutional right to strike and form unions
The gathering was addressed by Suraj from Mazdoor Sangharsh Sangathan, Subhash from Shramik Sangram Committee, Umakant from TUCI, Shravan from AITUC, P.K. Shahi from FTIIU New, Richa from Progressive Women’s Unity Centre, Santosh from Gramin Mazdoor Union, Raghubir from Nirman Kamgar Mazdoor Union, Rahul from Pachhas, Anvir from Lokpaksh, Anirudh and Satish Mahna from BNASU, Akanksha Priya, Rahul Siddhant, and other speakers. The program was moderated by Ranjana and Somnath, and the closing address was provided by Khemananda from IMK.
At the end of the demonstration, a resolution was passed that this struggle to protect workers’ rights will continue and that widespread solidarity will be built across the country.
