Times Activists Made Their Voices Heard in 2016

180 Million Strong Marks Largest Protest in History in India

In September of 2016 public sector workers in India protested against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in what may be the largest protest in world history. The trade unions include 180 million workers, including school teachers, construction workers, postal workers, and state bank employees. “Our strike will be 100 percent successful … we will prove that this strike is the world’s largest ever,” Indian National Trade Union Congress representative Ramen Pandey told Al Jazeera.

The people are fighting against the central government and Prime Minister Nareendra Modi, which has taken a more right wing approach to economic policies that are hurting workers. The protesters have 12 demands, including increasing minimum wage and a ban on foreign countries investing in India’s defense, insurance, and railway construction.