Let us awaken our people to take the destiny of our country in our hands!
Appeal of the Mazdoor Ekta Committee to the delegates at the All India Convention of trade unions of workers and peasants, 29 July, 2026, at New Delhi
Comrades,
We have assembled here from different states of the country, to discuss what we must do to put a halt to the anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-national and anti-social offensive of the capitalist class and its governments.
When the Prime Minister, or other ministers speak about how they are working for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, for realising a Viksit Bharat by 2047, their words sound grotesque. Even a child can see that Vikas (development) is only being ensured for the capitalists. Central and state governments are committed to ensure “ease of doing business” for the capitalists, by driving workers and peasants to ruin.
The truth is that our governments do not consider workers and peasants as human beings whose prosperity and security must be guaranteed. They look at us as beasts of burden, whose last drop of blood must be squeezed to ensure maximum profits for the capitalist class.
This is why the four anti-worker labour codes have been notified, even though the workers of the whole country have expressed their opposition to them. This is why the Free Trade Agreements with the US and other countries are being made, when peasants and workers throughout the country are expressing their opposition to them.
The majority of workers in our country are being forced to work at wages much lower than the officially declared minimum wages for that state. They are forced to work 12 hours a day, 72 hours a week, with no overtime payment. They work on contract, with no social security.
All over the country, workers have come out onto the streets, asserting their rights as workers. The central and state governments have unleashed unparalleled violence to crush their protests. Thousands of workers are languishing in jails, charged under laws such as the National Security Act without the hope of getting bail, simply for exercising the democratic right to protest!
The streets of Delhi and many other cities are reverberating with the voices of the youth of our country. They are protesting against corruption in the examinations which determine admission to higher education institutions, and to government jobs. They have been demanding that the government takes responsibility for its failure on these fronts. Lathi charges, tear gas shells, pellet shots, brutal beatings, the decision to arrest youth who participate in protests under the draconian National Security Act — nothing is deterring our courageous youth from the path of struggle. They represent the future of India.
Comrades,
The growing unity of workers’ and peasants’ unions on one common platform is a very positive development.
Our major demands are: repeal of the four labour codes; ending contract labour; a living wage for all workers; guaranteed state procurement at remunerative MSP for all agricultural produce; social security including guaranteed pension for all workers and peasants; halt to the privatisation program; ending privatisation of electricity distribution; scrapping the anti-worker, anti-peasant, anti-national Free Trade Agreements; good quality education for all; secure livelihood for all. We must step up our united struggle for the fulfilment of these entirely just demands.
We know that the source of our problems is the rule of the capitalist class. The agenda of this class is to enrich itself at the fastest possible pace by intensifying the degree of exploitation of workers and the robbery of the peasants. This agenda is being implemented by the capitalist parties which are in charge of the central and state governments.
The rule of the capitalist class needs to be replaced by workers’ and peasants’ rule! With political power in our hands, we workers and peasants can reorient the economy to ensure prosperity and security for all!
We who are gathered at this Convention must awaken the masses of workers and peasants to the truth that India belongs to us. The time has come for us to become the masters of the country. We must set the agenda for society.
Let us wage our struggle for our immediate demands with this perspective!