Left organizations protest Union Budget, Demand pro people reforms

Himachal Pradesh witnessed demonstrations on Wednesday as Leftist organizations staged protests across the state, condemning the Union Budget presented on February 1. They accused the government of prioritizing corporate interests while neglecting workers, farmers, and marginalized communities.

Statewide Protests Against the Budget

Responding to a nationwide call, protests were held at block and district headquarters throughout the state. In Shimla, a large demonstration took place at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where protesters symbolically burned copies of the budget in outrage. Hundreds of workers participated in the protest, demanding a fairer economic policy.

Addressing the gathering, CITU state president Vijender Mehra criticized the budget, stating, “This budget is designed to serve the rich while ignoring the struggles of workers, farmers, youth, and students. To intensify our movement, we will organize a state-level protest in Shimla on March 25.”

Allegations Against the Central Government

The protest leaders accused the Modi government of siding with capitalists and transferring economic resources from common citizens to the wealthy elite. They claimed that corporate profits have surged to record highs in the past 15 years, while workers’ wages have dropped below pre-pandemic levels.

Key Demands for Economic Justice

The Leftist organizations outlined a series of demands to ensure economic equity and social welfare:

1. Wealth and Corporate Tax Reform – Impose a 4% wealth tax on the top 200 billionaires and increase corporate taxes.
2. Support for Farmers – Provide a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and scrap the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.
3. Protection of Public Sector Units – Halt privatization and withdraw 100% FDI in the insurance sector.
4. Employment and Social Security – Increase MGNREGA funds by 50%, introduce an Urban Employment Guarantee Act, and enhance old-age pensions.
5. Healthcare and Education Investment – Allocate 3% of GDP for healthcare and 6% for education.
6. Food Security Strengthening – Expand food subsidies to reinforce the public distribution system.
7. Marginalized Communities’ Welfare – Significantly increase allocations for SC, ST, women, and child development programs.
8. Fair Revenue Distribution – Boost fund transfers to states and scrap petroleum cesses that exclude state revenue-sharing.

The protesters vowed to continue their struggle until their demands are met, signaling an escalation in the movement leading up to the March 25 state-level demonstration.