The Congress party on Thursday extended support to trade unions observing a day-long strike against the Centre's policies. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of ignoring the voices of workers and farmers while making decisions concerning their future.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would listen to the plight of workers now or if there is a "grip" on him that is too strong.
Employees and workers associated with a joint forum of central trade unions observed a day-long strike on Thursday to show their "resistance to anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the central government."
The forum has claimed that 30 crore workers are being mobilised for a "general strike" to protest against the new labour codes, among other issues.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that trade unions, farmers and workers across the country are on the streets against the Modi government's trade deal, labour laws and the "snatching away of MGNREGA."
"We stand firmly against the anti-people TRAP DEAL, which has mortgaged the future of millions of toiling farmers, workers and labourers. Succumbing to foreign pressure, the Modi government has tampered with the lives of crores of citizens of the country," he alleged in a post on X.
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Modi, Kharge said those who chanted "Abki baar Trump sarkaar" have harmed India's national interest, and the strongest opposition to this comes from workers, small traders and common people.
"From the streets to Parliament, our struggle will continue," Kharge added.
In a post on X in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said, "Today, lakhs of workers and farmers across the country are on the streets to raise their voices for their rights." He said workers fear that the four labour codes will weaken their rights.
"Farmers fear that the trade agreement (with the US) will harm their livelihoods. And weakening or eliminating MGNREGA could take away the last source of support for villages," the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
"Will Modiji listen now? Or is there a 'grip' on him that is too strong? I stand firmly with the issues and struggles of workers and farmers," Gandhi said.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed support for the workers and farmers, saying that whatever the government is doing is completely wrong.
"They are betraying the farmers. The kind of trade deal they have signed will result in suffering for farmers. We are supporting the labour unions in their strike today," she said.
(With inputs from PTI)