Govt turns a blind eye as country witness wave of protests

New Delhi: Postal employees across the country have been protesting for nine days. Bank employees’ strike has entered to its second day.

Common people including the farmers, who bear the brunt of the burden from continuous increase in fuel price, are also in the streets. However, Narendra Modi government, which spent thousands of crores rupees for its publicity, is turning a blind eye towards the protests, as if there were no such labour protests or public outrage.

Government did not seriously intervene to avert the strikes. It does not bother when the oil companies increase fuel price every day. Cabinet meetings that held last week have not addressed the issue of unprecedented hike in fuel prices. Cabinet meeting was not convened on Wednesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a foreign trip.

Postal service across the country is blocked due to the protest of postal employees. 2.70 lakh postal employees are on strike. Operation of banks also stopped as 10.5 lakh banks are on strike for two days. ATMs have run out of cash due to the strike.

After demonetisation, it is for the first time the banks are closed for two consecutive days. The strikes in the month-end have prevented emergency transactions. Salaried persons and contractors face difficulties to withdraw their money.

Last time, there was a hike of 15% in bank employees’ salary. However, this time it was only 2%. The strike is called on behalf of the United Forum of Banking Unons, the confederation of various bank employees' organisations.

The postal employees' strike has crippled not only postal services. As post offices now have even payment banks, postal the strike has affected financial transactions too. They are demanding regularisation of their appointment as government employees and implementation of Kamalesh Chandra Committee report recommendations. 1.29 lakh post offices across the country are shut down.

Majority of the population including farmers are in a rage as petrol and diesel prices continue to soar to new heights. In Punjab, farmers held a tractor rally and handed over key of the vehicles to district officials. Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan, a coordination body of hundred organisations, conducted a rally in Delhi. The protesters met President Ram Nath Kovind and sought his intervention, all of no avail.

The farmers complain that agriculture expenses are unbearable due to soaring diesel price. Protests are ongoing in different states against increase in fuel price.