Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 12: The nationwide general strike called by a joint forum of central trade unions against the BJP-led central government’s alleged “anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies” disrupted normal life in several states on Thursday, with transport, banking and industrial operations affected.
The strike was organised by a joint platform of ten central trade unions, including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC. The forum claimed that nearly 30 crore workers across the country had been mobilised in support of the bandh.
The protesting unions have demanded the rollback of the four labour codes, alleging that they dilute workers’ rights, reduce job security and make it easier for employers to hire and terminate staff.
They have also called for the restoration of MGNREGA and the scrapping of the proposed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. Among other demands are the withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill, the Electricity Amendment Bill and the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act.
AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said reports of participation had been received from Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Odisha and Bihar, among others.
“Processions have started in industrial areas of New Delhi and traffic movement is relatively light,” she said, adding that banking, insurance, postal, transport, health, coal and non-coal mines, gas pipeline and electricity sectors were expected to be impacted.
In Odisha, transport services were hit in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela. Protesters blocked roads near Station Square in the state capital, leaving passengers stranded at the railway station. Ama Bus and auto-rickshaw services were affected, and several commercial establishments remained closed.
Demonstrations on National Highway-16 at Jaydev Vihar led to traffic congestion in parts of the city.
In Jharkhand, members of trade unions staged demonstrations at the gates of coal companies and public sector undertakings. Banking, insurance and coal sectors reported disruptions. The Congress and Left parties extended support to the strike.
Normal life was also affected in Kerala, with KSRTC and private buses remaining off the roads. Auto-rickshaw unions joined the strike, severely affecting commuters.
A passenger waiting for a bus in Kochi told that she had been stranded since early morning after completing her night duty, with no buses in operation.
The state government issued an order stating that unauthorised absence of government employees due to the strike would be treated as “dies-non,” meaning the day would not be counted for service benefits.
In Goa, nationalised banks and several insurance offices remained closed. Some industrial estates reported partial shutdowns.
AITUC Secretary Suhas Naik said labour unions had halted work in solidarity with the strike but clarified that essential services and public transport were functioning normally. A protest march was held in Panaji.
The bandh saw minimal impact in West Bengal, where public transport operated normally and government and private offices recorded usual attendance.
CPI(M)’s student wing SFI staged demonstrations outside Jadavpur and Presidency universities. With the first day of the state board’s Class 12 examinations underway, authorities ensured adequate transport facilities and deployed heavy police presence to prevent disruptions.
Trade union leaders maintained that the strike witnessed large-scale participation nationwide, reiterating that no less than 30 crore workers were expected to join the protest.