“We must stand on our own feet and fight as best as we can for our rights,” said BR Ambedkar.
India in 2024 witnessed a range of protests—some against the establishment and others from within it. While several protests made headlines this year, some remained under the radar but at the same time made their voices heard.
The recently concluded Parliament Winter Session, which remained anything but cold, saw the custodians of the Constitution — the government and the opposition — protesting against each other in an effort to save the essence of India’s foundation.
But this protest from the authority was nothing but a deja vu to a time when the chief minister of a state protested against crime in her state after the rape and murder of a medic.
Even as these protests captured public attention, parallel protests of those asking for better wages, climate, safe and secure living conditions continued in the background.
Let’s take a look at the voices of those heard (and unheard):
‘Black Day’ labor protest
In September, thousands of Indian workers protested in cities like New Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata, demanding the repeal of the government’s four controversial labour codes. They argued the laws favored multinational corporations over workers’ rights. The protests coincided with a strike at Samsung’s Tamil Nadu plant, where workers called for better wages, disrupting production.
Five years ago, PM Modi passed an overhaul of outdated labour laws, replacing 44 regulations with four new codes aimed at setting minimum wages and improving working conditions. But unions have resisted the changes, and implementation has stalled.
Image credit: ANI
Protest against demolition of Muslim properties
India witnessed protests against demolitions of properties of Muslims in several pockets of the country, forcing human rights body Amnesty International and the Supreme Court’s intervention.
In its report titled — ‘If you speak up, your house will be demolished’, Amnesty International documented the demolition of 128 properties across Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh following communal violence and protests between April and June 2022.
As the matter went to the court, SC ruled that the government cannot demolish property belonging to individuals accused of crimes without following due judicial process. The court emphasized that such demolitions would violate the fundamental principle of the rule of law.
Sonam Wangchuk’s fight for Ladakh’s climate
Ladakh, often known for its bike ride-adventures, witnessed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 21-day hunger strike demanding inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The strike was called off after the Union home ministry assured Wangchuk that talks regarding Ladakh’s demands would resume in December.
Before the abrogation of Article 370, Ladakh had a voice in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly with four representatives. Today, as a Union territory, that voice is reduced to a single Lok Sabha MP, leaving locals with little influence over their governance. Protesters argue that the central government’s control over the region stifles local input, particularly when it comes to development initiatives. They call for statehood and a legislative assembly to ensure a more robust democratic framework. Additionally, there are growing concerns about Ladakh’s valuable mineral resources, with fears that outside corporations could exploit them, while locals remain sidelined in decisions regarding sustainable management and environmental protection.
Image credit: PTI
‘Saans nahi toh vote nahi’
The later months of the year turned suffocating for the North as the AQI reached a hazardous level forcing people from all age groups to protest outside Parliament demanding clean air.
The Supreme Court intervened and criticized the AAP government and Delhi Police for a “serious lapse” in properly implementing GRAP-IV measures. The court instructed the Commission for Air Quality Management to take action against the officials responsible.
As we are on the threshold of 2025 with some resolved and unresolved issues, one wonders what Ambedkar would have said — “So carry on your agitation and organize your forces. Power and prestige will come to you through struggle.”
Image credit: PTI
