Indian general strike of 2020-21

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On 26 November 2020, a mass general strike was held across India. The strike was organized by 10 trade unions across the country and was supported by the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), farmers' mass organizations and other left-wing parties. The strike saw an estimated 250 million people involved, making it the largest in history.

The worker's unions presented a list of seven demands:

1. Direct cash transfer of Rs 7,500 (US $101) to all families who earn less than the income tax threshold
2. 10kg free grain ration per person every month to all in need.
3. Expansion of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to provide employment from the current 100 days to 200 days work in rural areas with enhanced wages, and extension of this programme to urban areas
4. Withdrawal of all anti worker labour code changes and anti-farmer laws
5. Stop privatization of public sector corporations, including those in the finance sector. Stop the corporatization of government-run manufacturing and services entities in railways, ordinance manufacturing, ports and similar areas.
6. Withdraw the draconian circular of forced premature retirement of government and public sector employees.
7. Provide a pension to all, restore earlier pension scheme and improve EPS 95.

Response of Government

The response from the Indian government has been one of apathy to the suffering of farmers as they braved the cold weather. Farmers have been left dissatisfied with the conditions reached at the end of each talk.

Harpal Singh, organizing secretary of non-partisan farmers' organization BKU(Chaduni) remarked upon observing the insincerity of the government despite the deaths of 60 farmers at the time :

“It seems like the Centre wants more farmers – martyrs – to lose their lives… only God knows how many are enough to make the government reconsider its position,”

As the Farmers' protests remained persistent, they were victims of mob attacks, internet shutdowns and silencing of supportive voices on the internet.

Lakimpur Kheiri incident

Farmers protesting at Lakimpur Kheiri,Uttar Pradesh were deliberately run over by the vehicle of Ashish Mishra, the son of a BJP official, in a planned incident at October 3.In turn, the vehicle was set aflame and nine died in the ensuing violence with several injured. The local government, also run by the BJP, failed to conduct a transparent inquiry into the massacre.

After almost an year of protests, the BJP-ruled central government decided to relent (possibly in consideration of state elections in Punjab, where BJP candidates were prevented from entering villages to campaign) and (temporarily) repeal the farm laws. In an address of eve of Guru Nanak's birth anniversary at November 19, 2021, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced the decision to repeal the pro-corporate laws citing their inability to "convince" the farmers, maintaining that the laws would be beneficial. While being a significant success, the farmers' movement is to continue over other demands and issues.