The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday strongly condemned what it described as “brutal repression” of agitating factory workers in the Delhi-NCR industrial belt, accusing BJP-ruled governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh of resorting to force instead of addressing demands for better wages and statutory benefits.
In a statement issued by its Politburo, the party alleged that workers engaged in a prolonged struggle over wage increases and labour rights were met with police action, including arrests and the filing of what it termed “false cases” against labour leaders. “Instead of addressing these legitimate demands, both governments have let loose the police on the workers and resorted to filing false cases against workers’ leaders,” the statement said.
The party also criticised attempts to discredit the protests, claiming that authorities had “shamelessly insinuated that genuine protests are being instigated by external forces and branded workers’ leaders as conspirators.” It further raised concerns over reports of police action in rural areas linked to the workforce, alleging raids in villages, indiscriminate assaults on workers and mass detentions, with families not being informed about the whereabouts of several detainees.
Placing the unrest in a broader context, the CPI(M) said the agitation in the National Capital Region reflects a wider wave of labour discontent building over the past two and a half months, particularly in North India. According to the statement, workers across multiple sectors have been protesting against “inhuman working and living conditions, stagnant wages, denial of basic labour rights, and the callous, pro-management attitude of labour departments.”
Describing the developments as part of a larger pattern, the party termed the NCR protests “the latest expression of this growing discontent” and reiterated its support for the workers. It demanded the immediate release of those arrested and the unconditional withdrawal of all cases filed against them.
The CPI(M) also called on authorities to halt what it described as “repressive and vindictive measures” and instead engage in dialogue. “We call upon the police and the respective state governments to put an end to all repressive measures and address the workers’ legitimate demands through discussions with their representatives,” it said.
The statement comes amid ongoing tensions in key industrial clusters across the NCR, where labour issues, including wage disputes and working conditions, have increasingly come under scrutiny, prompting political reactions and raising concerns over the enforcement of labour rights in the region.