Pawan Kumar, secretary of the Haryana BMS unit, said that the dharna would be led by BMS founder D. P. Thengri. He said that more than 5,000 workers would participate from Haryana.

A press statement issued here today criticised the alliance government headed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for following the policies of privatisation, liberalisation and globalisation brought in by former prime minister P. V. Nrasimha Rao. It expressed concern that the government was treading the same path under pressure from the World Bank, IMF and World Trade Organisation which aimed at exploiting the working classes.The statement said that privatisation had led to an unprecedented rise in prices, increased unemployment, increase in the number of those living below the poverty line and accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few, which had caused regional imbalances. This had endangered the sovereignty of the country, Kumar said.

The dharna has been proposed to highlight the introduction of voluntary retirement in the name of reorganising public and private enterprises, granting recognition to the disinvestment commission constituted by the outgoing government, rendering millions unemployed by closing down sick industrial units, total recognition of direct investment in tobacco and wine industries and continuing restrictions on the manufacture of salt.