The 4th day of the 18th CITU All-India Conference transformed the port city of Visakhapatnam into a bastion of working-class internationalism today. More than 1,500 delegates and volunteers staged a massive, spontaneous demonstration at RK Beach, bringing traffic to a standstill in a powerful show of solidarity with the people of Venezuela.

In a stirring display of defiance, the conference unanimously adopted a resolution—moved by Sudip Dutta and seconded by Meenakshi Sundaram—vehemently condemning US imperialist aggression and the bombardment of Venezuelan territory. The protesters issued a stern, uncompromising demand for the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro, standing firmly in defense of the sovereignty of the Bolivarian Republic. Amidst thunderous slogans, the delegates sent a clear message that the fight of the Indian working class is inextricably linked to the global resistance against imperialist interference and for the right of nations to self-determination.

Building upon the seminal paper, "Towards Building An Alternative Policies," presented by General Secretary Tapan Sen, the conference floor transformed into a site of intense strategic planning. Delegates emphasized that the current economic trajectory, dictated by neoliberal interests, necessitates a radical shift toward worker-centric policies. They framed the Alternatives paper as the indispensable ideological backbone for the struggles ahead, providing a blueprint to challenge the status quo and reclaim the rights of the toiling masses.

The momentum of the proceedings was further galvanized by the adoption of three additional crucial resolutions addressing the most immediate challenges facing the Indian workforce. The first, addressing increasing industrial accidents and the deterioration of workplace safety, was moved by Chukka Ramulu and seconded by P. V. Aniyan. The resolution highlighted a harrowing trend of declining safety standards and demanded the immediate reinstatement of rigorous safety audits and the absolute accountability of industrial management.

Resolution against communalism - K N Umesh, supported by Kailash, Resolution on massive mobilisation on 8 March on working women's issues - S Varalakshmi, supported by Pramod Pradhan.

Continuing the offensive against privatization, Deepa Rajan moved a resolution to oppose the privatization of electricity and the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, seconded by Shankar Dutta. The conference denounced the bill as a predatory mechanism designed to transfer public assets to private monopolies, vowing to resist any attempt to turn a basic necessity into a source of corporate profit. Finally, the conference addressed the burning issue of retirement justice. R. Karumalaiyan moved a comprehensive resolution to strengthen EPS-95, scrap NPS/UPS, and restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), seconded by Lalit Mishra. CITU reiterated its demand for a universal pension to guarantee a life of dignity for all, serving as a clarion call for a nationwide intensification of the class struggle against exploitative policies.

Issued By
Tapan Sen
General Secretary