New Delhi, Oct 29 Various central trade unions under the banner of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), affiliated to the Communist Party of India, held a demonstration here on Wednesday against price rise and unemployment.

The major unions that participated in the protest included the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

Workers have been affected by the economic downturn that has shrunk domestic demand for goods and slashed exports, and led firms to shed jobs even as food prices stubbornly remain high.

"We employees are on 'dharna' (sit-in protest)-cum-demonstration against price rise, unemployment and violations of law and retrenchment and all the concession to monopolists depriving working class, all these things are there so we are on agitation," said Gurudas Gupta, general secretary, All India Trade Union Congress.

Trade union leaders warned that they would intensify their agitation if their demands were not met.

"Workers need to raise their voice for their demands and if no one heeds to their demand in this democracy then the work imposed on us will be stopped. So not only Delhi but the entire nation will come to a stand still," said Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, National Secretary, Hind Mazdoor Sabha or Indian Workers Council. (ANI)