A joint platform of 10 central trade unions on Monday reaffirmed that the call for a nationwide general strike on February 12 will go ahead, claiming that not less than 30 crore workers across the country are expected to participate in the protest.
The unions said the strike is aimed at opposing what they describe as “anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate” policies of the central government.
All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said participation this year is expected to exceed the July 2025 agitation, when around 25 crore workers had joined the movement.
Kaur said the strike is likely to impact nearly 600 districts nationwide, compared to around 550 districts during the previous mobilisation. She added that the estimates are based on district- and block-level preparations, with support also coming from farmers’ groups and allied federations.
Responding to a question on the impact in BJP-ruled states, Kaur claimed that Odisha and Assam could witness a “complete shutdown,” while other states are also expected to see significant disruption.
According to a statement from the joint forum, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha has extended full support to the strike and mobilisation efforts. Agricultural workers’ unions are also participating, with a particular focus on demands related to the restoration of MGNREGA.
The unions said campaigns have been conducted across government departments, public and private sector establishments, industrial clusters and rural as well as urban areas.
Student and youth organisations have also joined awareness drives in several states, while common citizens have expressed solidarity with the strike demands. Strike notices, the forum added, have been served in most sectors and industries, and preparations are “full-fledged.”
Among the key demands are the scrapping of the four labour codes and related rules, withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill, the Electricity Amendment Bill and the proposed Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act.
The unions are also seeking restoration of MGNREGA and the withdrawal of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025.
Farmers’ groups back protest, Himachal apple growers plan Delhi march
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha reiterated its full support for the February 12 strike, calling it a united action against privatisation, contractualisation and proposed legislative changes affecting labour and agriculture.
Large-scale participation from farmers, agricultural labourers and industrial unions is expected at protest sites across the country.
In Himachal Pradesh, apple growers have stepped up preparations to join the nationwide agitation and announced plans for a Delhi march.
Farmer organisations warned that recent import duty reductions under free trade agreements could severely impact the state’s apple-based economy despite assurances from Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal that growers’ interests would be safeguarded.
During block-level meetings of the Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers’ Association in Jubbal and Rohru, orchardists resolved to mobilise farmers at the village level for the strike.
Former MLA and farmers’ leader Rakesh Singha cautioned that reduced import duties on apples from the United States, New Zealand and European Union countries would expose local producers to heavily subsidised foreign competition.
“The impact of this policy will be very deep. American apple farming is backed by massive subsidies and corporate players like Walmart and Cargill. Our farmers do not get even a fraction of that support. This reduction in import duty will destroy apple orchards here,” Singha said.
*with Agency inputs
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