Tumkur: Opposing the central government’s anti-labor policies, AITUC carried out a protest march from Town Hall to BSNL office under the theme ‘Mazdoor Bachao, Desh Bachao, Modi Hathao’.

Addressing labors at Town Hall, AITUC district president Girish said the Union Government is practicing anti-labor and pro-owner policies by converting about 44 labor laws into four simplified codes. As per the existing law, all the rules of the labor laws are applicable if there are 20 workers in a factory or company, but it has been increased to 40 in the new law. As a result, around 47 crore unorganized labors are going to come out of the labor laws. It will be like; there won’t be any relation between the owner and the labors. So we are fighting to scrap this law, "he said.   

“The central government has snatched away the cesses of labor welfare, building workers, beedi workers, and other cesses; by implementing GST. Now, for everything we must stand before the central government with folded hands,” he added. 

This is precisely the same as the millions of construction labors, Beedi labors, and other workers are being done injustice. Also, the owners have knocked the court’s door against the board's decision as per which the minimum wage of Rs.14,000 per month must be given to labors. The central government is indirectly supporting it, he accused.

Many protesters including AITUC Ashwatnarayana, Satyanarayana, Ramesh Shira, Madhugiri Ramanna, Thurvekere Sivananda, Gubbi Doddatimmaiah, Ravishankar of Indosis were present.

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Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."

In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."

He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.

The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."

The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."