Srinagar July 21, July 21 -- Speaking at a press conference on Monday, senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1924 Silk Factory protest in Srinagar and used the occasion to highlight the plight of today's working class.

According to KNS, Tarigami said that on July 21, 1924, unarmed silk mill workers took to the streets in darkness, demanding fair wages and better working conditions. Instead of listening, the Dogra regime responded with bullets. "They gave their sweat, blood and even their lives to produce silk, while others wore it in luxury," he remarked.

He recalled that 7 to 10 workers were killed and many were arrested that day. "Today, that old silk factory still stands, though very few car...