300M Participate in Protest by Farmer & Trade Unions

A farmer unions' alliance Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions had called for a joint nationwide protest on 12 Feb against the anti-farmer, anti-worker, and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the union government. The unions said, more than 300M farmers, agricultural workers, workers, and other groups of employees in 600 districts of India participated in the strike against the four Labour Codes and the Free Trade Agreements between India and the UK, US, and European Union. The charter of demands included withdrawing the Draft Seeds Bill, Electricity (Amendment) Bill, Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (rural employment policy), and the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill (education policy). Sectors such as coal, electricity, insurance, banking, ports, the manufacturing sector, and services, including transport, were affected in different states. After the strike, the SKM statement said, 'It is one of the largest ever general strikes in the history of independent India and specifically noted for cementing the worker-peasant unity as the backbone of the mass resistance against the corporate policies being vehemently pursued by the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.' The Trade Union Coordination Centre statement said, 'The workers in most of the industrial areas in the country, including in many multi national corporations, joined the strike in a big way and organized processions. The defence sector employees held protest demonstrations cutting one hour of work in support of the strike. The railway unions mobilized and participated in solidarity actions.' The Indian National Congress supported the strike, but in Panjab the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) revealed its double standards. On 11 Feb, AAP posted on X that it opposes India's secret deal with the US and it stands firmly with traders and farmers in every struggle to protect the country and safeguard agriculture. However, that same evening, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited issued a letter warning its employees of severe disciplinary action if found participating in the 12 Feb strike (earlier coverage).