Shimla: Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU), and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) jointly marked Martyrs Day across India.

Commemorating the historic events of January 19, 1982, when ten activists lost their lives during the first all-India general strike, the unions organized district-level rallies to protest against the Modi government's policies.

The strike, a pivotal moment in India's labor history, was the result of a united effort by major trade unions, including CITU, AITUC, INTUC, HMS, and BMS.

It demanded a 13-point charter, addressing issues like remunerative prices for agricultural produce, minimum wages, social security for workers, and more.

The successful strike saw widespread participation, with total bandhs in West Bengal and Kerala, despite government oppression and false propaganda.

In Tamil Nadu, police firing during the strike led to the death of three activists. Uttar Pradesh witnessed a massive turnout of workers, peasants, and students, with police violence claiming two lives.

Despite three decades of struggle, many demands remain unmet, exacerbated by aggressive neo-liberal economic policies.

This year's Martyrs Day focused on highlighting the challenges posed by demonetization and emphasized demands such as compensation for demonetization-induced losses, remunerative prices for crops, and a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month.

The significance of this struggle lies in fostering worker-peasant unity, with ten activists sacrificing their lives for a common cause.

CITU, AIAWU, and AIKS aim to strengthen this unity, emphasizing the importance of the worker-peasant alliance in the people's democratic revolution.