A coalition of influential rural and farm labour organisations in Punjab has called for a major demonstration at the Sangrur residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The protest, scheduled for January 27, aims to secure the immediate release of labour leader Mukesh Malaud, president of the Zamin Prapti Sangrash Committee (ZPSC).
Arrest Sparks Outrage Among Labour Groups
The call for action follows the arrest of Malaud by Sangrur police at Delhi's Nizamuddin railway station on December 30. He was detained in connection with old cases related to agitations for land acquisition. Leaders from multiple unions have condemned this move, labelling it a direct attack on the labour movement in the state.
The protest announcement was jointly made by the Pendu Mazdoor Union (PMU) Punjab, ZPSC, Revolutionary Rural Labour Union Punjab, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union (PKMU), and the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha Punjab, among others. This unified front signals significant discontent within Punjab's labour circles.
Leaders Condemn Government's "Double Standards"
Prominent figures extending support include PKMU state general secretary Lachhman Singh Sewewala, All India Farm Labour Union state general secretary Gurmesh Singh, Rural Labour Sabha president Darshan Nahar, and Revolutionary Rural Labour Union leader Lakhvir Singh Longowal.
In a strong statement, union leaders including PMU chief Tarsem Peter and ZPSC secretary Bikkar Singh Hathoa highlighted the apparent contradiction in Malaud's arrest. They pointed out that Malaud had previously participated in formal discussions with the Punjab government, including meetings with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, cabinet ministers, and senior officials to resolve labour demands.
"Malaud is not an underground leader," the leaders asserted, questioning the timing and intent behind his detention after such engagements.
Broader Struggle Against Policy Changes
The leaders framed the arrest within a larger context of resistance. They connected it to the ongoing opposition against the Centre's labour law amendments, the VB-G-RAM-G scheme, and the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill. According to them, labour organisations are challenging both the central and state governments through these united struggles.
Further accusations were levelled against the Punjab government for allegedly ignoring core labour demands over the past four years. The unions criticised attempts to privatise public institutions and panchayat land, accusing the administration of reneging on pre-election guarantees made to the working class.
The planned sit-in on January 27 is shaping up to be a significant show of strength, putting pressure on the Bhagwant Mann-led government to address the release of Mukesh Malaud and the wider issues plaguing the state's labour force.
