Other States - Puducherry   

Trade union activists pay homage to “July 30 martyrs”

Photo: T. Singaravelou

Mark of respect: Trade union activists proceeding to pay homage to martyrs of the “July 30 struggle" for workers’ rights, in Puducherry on Wednesday. —

PUDUCHERRY: Trade union activists including those owing allegiance to the All India Trade Union Congress and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions on Wednesday paid homage at the memorial of the “July 30 martyrs.”

Leaders of the AITUC including Tamil Nadu State unit president K. Subbarayan, national council member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) R. Viswanathan and secretary of the Puducherry unit of the party N. Kalainathan led a peace march from Swadeshi Mill to the martyrs’ column to mark the 72nd anniversary of the incident.

The activists placed wreaths at the memorial pillar built to mark the martyrdom of 12 workers who were gunned down by the then French armed forces during an agitation on July 30, 1936.

According to CITU sources, the workers’ agitation and their sacrifice had resulted in the working class of Puducherry securing trade union rights such as eight-hour working day for the first time in Asia on April 6, 1937.

The CITU held a public meeting and cultural events near Swadeshi Mill. State committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) T. Murugan, Puducherry unit secretary of the party V. Perumal and district secretary of the union K. Murugan addressed the meeting.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Police to step up vigil in Karaikal
MLAs to seek Lt. Governor’s intervention
Trade union activists pay homage to “July 30 martyrs”
Officials testify before privilege panel
Capturing Kerala in colours
NCP to stage protest
Call to end discrimination
“Save groundwater”

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu