Date:02/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/02/stories/2007050207820500.htm

Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad

Rallies, meetings mark May Day celebrations

Staff Correspondent

`Workers urged to unite and fight for their rights'

HUBLI: A large number of people participated in the rallies organised to mark May Day celebrations at various places in the district on Tuesday.

Members of All India Trade Union Congress, Dalit workers' associations, associations of autorickshaw and maxicab drivers, government employees, pourakarmikas and beedi workers participated in the rallies.

A rally organised by various organisations in Hubli was flagged off at A.J. Mudhol Bhavan in Old Hubli. Sri Basavaraja Devaru of Revanasiddheshwar Math in Mansur inaugurated the rally.

Members of various organisations carried placards and banners and flags and raised slogans against exploitation of workers in the unorganised sector. The rally ended at Indira Glass House where a public meeting was organised.

Addressing the gathering, Sri Basavaraja Devaru urged the workers to unite and fight for their rights.

Other speakers stressed the need of involving all employees, including from information and biotechnology sectors, in the struggle for the cause of workers.

Babajan Mudhol, Devananda Jagapur, Dadapeer Bepari, Rajashekhar Mensinakai, Prabhakar Bidnal, Hanumantappa Karlingannavar and other leaders participated in the meeting. Rallies and public meetings were held in other cities and towns of the district, including Dharwad.