100 mass organisations to hold protest in state capitals against Modi govt on May 23

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Over 100 mass organisations will hold marches in all state capitals on May 23 to protest against the "anti-people" policies being pursued by the central government.

The Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan (JEJAA), an umbrella organisation consisting of trade unions, peasant organisations, agricultural workers, state and central government employees, bank and insurance workers, college and university teachers, students, women, Dalits, Adivasis, and environmentalists, would observe 'Protest Day' on May 23.

"The protest day would be the launch of a series of struggles with the aim of making the government accountable for the devastating impact of its policies and betraying the people especially workers, peasants, women, and youths by its false promises. The campaign would put forward the slogan...either the government changes its policies or people would change the government," said Hannan Mollah, a member of the JEJAA coordination committee.

The leaders of JEJAA also accused the BJP-RSS of unleashing terror by spreading caste and communal hatred and violence.

"Democratic institutions have been taken over by RSS cadres. The law and order situation has become the worst ever in the BJP-ruled states with mobs and gangs roaming free on streets lynching people and they are being protected by those who are in power. It is a war against the Modi government," Atul Anjan, another member of the coordination committee, said.

Riots, encounter killings, murders and rape against women and children have become routine with RSS-BJP leaders in the forefront shamelessly protecting the perpetuators of such crime, organisation leaders said.

After the successful farmers march in Maharashtra organised by the All Indian Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which is also part of the JEJAA, leaders feel that only a conglomeration of various "progressive" organisations can mobilise people to take on the BJP government.