Normal life across most parts of India remained largely unaffected on Thursday despite a nationwide strike called by a joint forum of central trade unions to protest against what they described as the Centre’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies”.
The agitation evoked a mixed response across states, with significant disruption reported from Odisha and parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, while several other states witnessed minimal impact.
In Odisha, a 12-hour agitation affected public transport, markets, educational institutions and business establishments. Major roads, including national and state highways, were blocked, with the impact felt in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Berhampur and Sambalpur.
In Jharkhand, banking, insurance and coal sectors were affected, Bank of India Employees’ Union state Deputy General Secretary Umesh Das said. Left parties and the Congress extended support to the strike in the state.
Chhattisgarh saw several nationalised banks remain closed as employees joined the agitation. Staff of insurance companies and post offices, along with labourers and farmers, participated in protests, partially affecting mining activities. However, transport services functioned normally and most markets and business establishments remained open. Operations at the Bhilai Steel Plant in Durg district continued as usual.
Port operations in Tamil Nadu were disrupted, particularly in Thoothukudi and Chennai, as workers staged protests. In the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam industrial belt, workers held gate meetings and demonstrations. While production continued in some automobile and electronics units with reduced manpower, goods movement faced delays due to a shortage of transport vehicles.
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In Kerala, the state government declared a dies-non for government employees. Transport services were severely hit, with KSRTC and private buses off the roads. Auto-rickshaw unions also stayed away from operations, affecting commuters.
Punjab’s ruling AAP extended support to the strike, stating that its cadre would join the shutdown in solidarity with workers and farmers.
In Goa, banking operations were affected, though essential services remained undisrupted. Nationalised banks and several insurance offices stayed closed.
In Madhya Pradesh, over 25,000 civilian employees in defence establishments reported to work an hour late in support of the strike. However, markets, schools and colleges functioned normally.
The strike call failed to evoke any significant response in West Bengal, Tripura and Gujarat, where offices, markets, educational institutions and transport services operated as usual. Major cities including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot reported no disruption.
The joint forum claimed that 30 crore workers were being mobilised for a “general strike” against the new Labour Codes and other policy measures.
All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said the strike began across the country on Thursday morning, with reports of protests from Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Odisha and Bihar. She said banking, insurance, postal, transport, health, mining, gas pipeline and electricity sectors would be affected. Farmers’ unions were also holding protests in their respective areas.
Among the unions’ demands are the scrapping of the four Labour Codes and associated rules, withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill and Electricity Amendment Bill, and repeal of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act. They have also sought restoration of MGNREGA and scrapping of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025.
The joint forum includes INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.
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