BHUBANESWAR — Tensions boiled over in the capital city on Wednesday as hundreds of slum dwellers, under the banner of the Basti Suraksha Manch, staged a massive protest at Master Canteen Square against the forcible eviction of residents from the Niladri Vihar Transit House.

The demonstration comes in the wake of a major demolition drive on August 11, during which approximately 120 families lost their homes. Protesters alleged that the authorities initiated the drive without arranging adequate rehabilitation, leaving scores of vulnerable citizens—including young children, pregnant women, and the elderly—stranded under the open sky during peak monsoon rains.

A Struggle for Dignity and Shelter

Holding banners and raising slogans, demonstrators criticized the administration for treating the long-term urban poor merely as “encroachers.” Protesters highlighted that slum residents form the lifeline of Bhubaneswar’s informal economy as daily wage laborers, domestic workers, sanitation staff, construction workers, and street vendors.

“This is not just an issue of illegal occupation; it is a fundamental human rights issue concerning shelter, livelihood, and social dignity,” stated representatives of the Basti Suraksha Manch.

The organization also condemned recent police action, alleging that peaceful protesters were subjected to arbitrary detentions and harsh suppression.

Memorandum Submitted to BMC and Chief Minister

Following the rally, a five-member delegation met with the Deputy Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to hand over a formal memorandum outlining their core grievances. Parallel copies were submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the Housing & Urban Development Department.

The key demands placed before the administration include:

Immediate Cessation of Demolitions: An absolute ban on further evictions at Niladri Vihar without prior, proper rehabilitation.

Legal Compliance: Strict adherence to the Odisha Municipal Corporation (OMC) Act regarding land rights and proper family unit definitions.

Fair Re-verification: Transparent review processes for families previously excluded from beneficiary lists.

Dignified Housing: Provision of permanent land rights or constructed homes for all affected households.

Call for Compassionate Urban Governance

The Manch urged state authorities to abandon “bulldozer-led governance” and instead adopt a human-centric approach rooted in constitutional rights and social equity. Prominent civil rights leaders and activists—including Com Pramila General Secretary of BSM and Politiburo Member CPIMLREDSTAR, Hena (President, Basti Suraksha Manch), Narayan Lenka, Bijay Barik, Padmanabha Martha, Sanatan Ojha, Radharani Maharana, and Mayadhar Sethi—spearheaded the protest.

As of Wednesday evening, municipal authorities have acknowledged receipt of the memorandum, though an official statement regarding a pause in the eviction drive is currently awaited.

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SKM, Central Trade Unions and Mass Organisations Demand Withdrawal of Four Labour Codes, MSP at C2+50%, Restoration of MGNREGA and ₹44,000 Minimum Wage

Raipur, August 10, 2026:
As part of the All-India Protest Day called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Central Trade Unions and various mass organisations, a militant street-corner meeting was organised at Gandhi Chowk, Raipur, on August 10 against the intensely anti-worker, anti-peasant and pro-corporate policies of the fascist Modi government.

Addressing the gathering, speakers strongly condemned the Modi government’s relentless attack on the rights and livelihoods of workers and peasants and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the four pro-corporate Labour Codes. They declared that the Labour Codes must be repealed and existing labour rights and protections restored.

The meeting demanded legally guaranteed MSP for all crops at C2+50%, as recommended by the farmers’ movement, along with assured procurement of agricultural produce. Speakers also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the new VB-RAMJI employment scheme and restoration of the earlier MGNREGA scheme, with a statutory guarantee of 200 days of employment for every rural household demanding work.

Other major demands raised at the meeting included:

– Abolition of the contract labour system;
– Withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2025;
– An end to the disinvestment of LIC;
– An immediate halt to the privatisation of public institutions and public sector enterprises;
– A minimum monthly wage of ₹44,000 for workers;
– An end to attacks and repression against students and youth, Dalits and other oppressed sections, women, Adivasis and minorities by Fascist RSS – Corporate nexus.

Speakers condemned the growing saffron fascist-corporate nexus and its attacks on democratic rights, livelihood, social justice and the constitutional rights of oppressed and marginalised sections. They stressed that the working class, peasantry and all oppressed sections must unite and intensify their struggles against the anti-people and pro-corporate policies of the Modi government.

The street-corner meeting was addressed by Comrade Rajesh Parate, Comrade N. S. Baghel and Comrade Anusuya Thakur of the LIC Union; Comrade Saura of TUCI; Comrade Tuhin of the Revolutionary Cultural Forum; Comrade M. K. Nandi of CITU; Comrade Narottam Sharma of Chhattisgarh Kisan Mahasangh; Comrade Beeshat Kurre of AICCTU; and Comrade Biswajit Harode of AIUTUC.

The meeting concluded with militant slogans against the fascist Modi government’s anti-worker, anti-peasant and pro-corporate policies and in support of the united struggles of workers, peasants and all oppressed sections of society.

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Following the demonstration, a joint memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Barnala, raising various demands concerning the rights and interests of farmers and workers.

The protest meeting was addressed by leaders including Chamkaur Singh of BKU Ugrahan, Manjit Singh Dhaner of BKU Dakonda, Darshan Singh Ugoke, Labh Singh Akalia of the Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI), Khushia Singh of AITUC, and other leaders.

The speakers strongly condemned the anti-farmer, anti-worker and pro-corporate policies of the Modi government and called upon farmers, workers and all democratic and progressive forces to intensify their united struggle against these policies.

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Speakers say: Today we are living under the shadow of terror and fascist repression far more severe than the Emergency

Bhilai, June 25, 2026: Jan Sangharsh Morcha Chhattisgarh observed Anti-Fascist Day in Bhilai. On this occasion, a seminar was organised on the theme “How to Defend Democracy, the Constitution and Secularism.”

The speakers unanimously stated that describing the present situation as an “undeclared Emergency” would be a historical mistake and apolitical. Because today the people of the country are living under the shadow of fascist repression that is far more severe than the Emergency. Today, democracy, the Constitution and secularism are being brutally crushed under the bulldozer of the cruel Manusmriti-based Hindu Rashtra project. The country and its people are facing a deep crisis.

Since 2014, 90 percent of the people of the country have been suffering due to the attacks of Sangh-inspired, Manusmriti-based fascist forces — the lackeys of big corporate houses like Adani and Ambani, merchants of hatred and division, and enemies of humanity. It is the call of the hour that in order to defend democracy, the Constitution and secularism, a second struggle for freedom must be fought by uniting all toiling class and oppressed sections of society.

The seminar was presided over by Jan Sangharsh Morcha Chhattisgarh Convenor Prasad Rao. Tuhin, Convenor of the Caste Annihilation Movement and Revolutionary Cultural Forum, presented the introductory address on the subject. Comrade Saura, State Secretary of CPI (ML) Red Star, Amarjeet Patel, President of Moolnivasi Sangh Chhattisgarh, social activist Sajjad Hussain, former Chairman of the State Minorities Commission Dr. Deepak Claudius, Sukhdev Singh Gill, Reverend Rajesh Prakash, Pastor Firtu Sahu, Pastor Anoop Masih, Pastor James Lal , Ismail Kumar and Jai Sahu, President of Moolnivasi Sangh Durg, addressed the gathering. Pastor Choaram conducted the proceedings.

The speakers said that the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975 was an authoritarian and repressive step and was anti-people. But it was not the dark, fascist India opposed to democracy, the Constitution and secularism that we are experiencing today. Today, those who have come to power by taking oath on the Indian Constitution have almost destroyed the Constitution, secularism, the pluralistic society and democracy.

These forces, under the guidance of the RSS — world’s largest and oldest fascist organisation — are pursuing the agenda of “one country, one election, one language, one nation, one religion, one law, one party” (a party favoured by domestic and foreign corporate houses). They are also anti-women, anti-tribal, anti-Dalit and anti-oppressed communities, anti-minority, and against the poor working people.

Those who are in power in the country and many states today have adopted the Manusmriti-based caste system as their ideological basis and are openly engaged in building a Hindu Rashtra project by replacing the Constitution. These Manusmriti-based Sangh-BJP forces have no moral right to remain in power even for a single minute, because there is no greater enemy of democracy and the Constitution in the country today. Their predecessors in the RSS and Jana Sangh had been demanding since 1949 that the Constitution of India be replaced by the “sacred Constitution” of Hindu Rashtra, the Manusmriti.

The seminar also shared the important information that after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the RSS was banned for the first time, and due to its alleged collaboration with British imperialism and betrayal of the nation, this fascist far-right organisation was pushed to the margins. However, during the united movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan against the Emergency and Indira Gandhi’s authoritarianism, including the RSS in that front proved to be a major mistake. This gave the RSS an opportunity to enter the mainstream of Indian politics.

The Sangh has always been notorious for turning crises into opportunities. During the Emergency, the then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras wrote several letters of apology to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra seeking concessions. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also associated with this episode; after being released early from jail, he appealed to Congress ministers to get RSS members freed from prison.

Balasaheb Deoras supported the Emergency in his letters, surrendered before Indira Gandhi, and along with other volunteers who were imprisoned, got released quickly after submitting bonds. Meanwhile, people associated with the Left and socialist movements continued to suffer imprisonment and torture throughout the Emergency. Therefore, the RSS-BJP should stop pretending to oppose the Emergency.

The seminar resolved to launch a statewide public awareness campaign against the large-scale loot of land, forests and water resources in the state in the interests of corporate houses like Adani, Jindal and Essar, and against the violent communal campaign of hatred and division targeting minorities — especially Muslims and Christians — as well as Dalits, oppressed communities and Adivasis by the fascist Sangh Parivar.

Prasad Rao, Tuhin
On behalf of the Convenor Committee
Jan Sangharsh Morcha Chhattisgarh
June 25, 2026

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Implement Revised Wages for Contract Workers of KREIS Residential Schools and Government Hostels Immediately – Demand by TUCI

Raichur: Under the leadership of the Karnataka State KREIS Residential Schools Contract D-Group Employees Association (TUCI) and the Karnataka State Hostel Employees Association (TUCI) Raichur District Committees, a memorandum was submitted today to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat and officials of the Social Welfare, Backward Classes Welfare, Minorities Welfare, and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Departments. The associations demanded the immediate implementation of the uniform revised minimum wages notification dated 22-05-2026 issued by the Labor Department of the Government of Karnataka, along with the payment of revised wage arrears pending since 22-05-2026.

Although the government has issued a clear order making the implementation of revised wages mandatory for contract workers across all departments, the revised wages have not yet been implemented for Group-D contract workers in KREIS residential schools and hostels operating under the Social Welfare, Backward Classes Welfare, Minorities Welfare, and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Departments in Raichur district. The associations condemned this, stating that it constitutes a violation of government orders and a denial of working-class rights.

As per the government notification, the associations have demanded the immediate implementation of the revised wages (take-home salary after EPF and ESI deductions) along with arrears since 22-05-2026.

The prescribed pay scales are as follows: For Zone-01: Chief Cooks: ₹26,968.47; Assistant Cooks: ₹24,630.83; Night Guards and Sanitation Workers: ₹22,321.91. Zone-02: Chief Cooks: ₹24,431.10; Assistant Cooks: ₹22,321.91; Night Guards and Sanitation Workers: ₹20,404.45.

The memorandum was submitted to the District Deputy Director through Ravi Kumar M., Manager of the Raichur District Social Welfare Department.

On behalf of the Karnataka State KREIS Residential Schools Contract D-Group Employees Association (TUCI), the event saw the participation of M. Gangadhar (District Honorary President), G. Adavi Rao (District President – TUCI), Niranjan Kumar(District Committee Member, CPI(ML) Red Star), Nagamma (District President), Mounesh (District Vice President), Ramaiya (District Vice President), Santosh Sirivara (District General Secretary), and Basavaraja Gabburu (District Treasurer).

Representing the Karnataka State Hostel Employees Association (TUCI), Thipparaj Gejjalaghatta (Honorary President), Nagamma Lingsugur (President), Arogya Mary (Secretary), Devanna (General Secretary), Nazeer Ahmed, Gopalakrishna, Kashimbi, Shekharappa, Santosh Bali, Renukamma, Paddamma, Chennamma, Nasreen, and Jainamma, along with contract hostel workers from various departments, took part

Union leaders urged that the government’s order must be implemented immediately to provide revised wages and arrears to all eligible workers. Failing this, TUCI will intensify its legal, democratic, and agitational struggles to protect workers’ rights. They asserted that they would not tolerate the infringement of working-class rights under any circumstances.

G. Adavirao
District President
Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI), Raichur
Date: 24-06-2026

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Basti Suraksha Manch Mancheswar Area Committee, Odisha, protested and submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Urban Development related to various demands of rehabilitation and slum dwellers’ rights.

The demands include:

1) A detailed survey of all affected families should be conducted before the proposed eviction.

2) Written assurance of rehabilitation and resettlement as per law should be provided to the affected families.

3) Basic facilities such as habitable houses, drinking water, electricity, roads, health, and education services must be ensured at the rehabilitation site.

4) No houses should be demolished until full rehabilitation is completed.

5) Prior notice, hearing of objections, and opportunity to file grievances should be provided as per law.

6) A transparent and just process should be followed in consultation with the affected slum dwellers.

More than 100 slum dwellers gathered raising these demands.

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