Trade unions call for Bharat Bandh today; check if your state is affected

Employees and workers associated with a joint forum of central trade unions observed a daylong strike on Thursday to protest against what they described as ldquoantiworker antifarmer and antinational procorporate policies of the central governmentrdquoThe forum claimed that around 30 crore workers were mobilised for the ldquogeneral strikerdquo primarily to oppose the four new labour codes among other issuesAll India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told PTI that the strike began across the country on Thursday morning She said reports of the agitation had come in from states including Assam Tamil Nadu Pondicherry Kerala Odisha and Bihar Processions had started in industrial areas of New Delhi and traffic on the roads was relatively light she addedKaur said banking insurance postal transport health coal and noncoal mines gas pipeline and electricity sectors would be affected by the strike She further said farmersrsquo unions would also hold protests in their respective areasThe immediate demands of the unions include scrapping of the four labour codes and rules withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill and Electricity Amendment Bill and the ldquoSustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India SHANTI Actrdquo They are also demanding restoration of MGNREGA and scrapping of the Viksit Bharat ndash Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin Act 2025The joint forum includes INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC SEWA AICCTU LPF and UTUCBharat Bandh Confederation of All India Traders says its business as usualMeanwhile the Confederation of All India Traders CAIT clarified that markets across the country were open and business was proceeding as usual National Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal who is also a Member of Parliament said no major national tradersrsquo organisation had called for a Bharat BandhldquoNo major national tradersrsquo organisation has called for a Bharat Bandh Therefore all commercial establishments markets wholesale and retail trade centres across India will remain fully open and routine business operations will be carried out without disruptionrdquo Khandelwal saidHe added that the trading community formed the backbone of the nationrsquos economy and had always ensured that consumers did not face inconvenience ldquoThe organised trade sector does not support any such bandhrdquo he said urging the public not to pay attention to rumours or misleading informationPublic sector banks government offices transport services and markets in several states are likely to be partly affected due to the strike Some schools and colleges may also remain closed in protesthit areas depending on local conditions The strike call has been given by a joint platform of central trade unions with strong backing from farmer groups opposing the new labour codes and related policiesBharat Bandh How has the strike impacted daily lifeTamil NaduKeralaAs part of the nationwide general strike Bharat Bandh observed across several states on Thursday government bus services between Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been completely suspended causing inconvenience to passengers travelling between the two statesVIDEO Chennai Police detain protesters as AITUC holds rail roko protest as part of nationwide Bharat Bandh against the centres antilabour policies Full video available on PTI Videos httpstcon147TvrpG7 pictwittercomXjQkjsW16tmdash Press Trust of India PTI_News February 12 2026VIDEO Kerala Trade unions march in Kochi during Bharat Bandh passenger bus services affectedFull video available on PTI Videos httpstcon147TvrpG7 pictwittercomjxDWmCjxIxmdash Press Trust of India PTI_News February 12 2026West BengalIn West Bengal the call for a nationwide strike failed to evoke any response in West Bengal as vehicles plied normally and state government and private offices recorded usual turnoutGoaThe nationwide strike called by trade unions against the Centres policies on Thursday drew a mixed response in Goa with banking operations affected while essential services remained undisruptedVIDEO Goa Hundreds in Panaji join oneday strike supporting the Bharat Bandh Full video available on PTI Videos httpstcon147TvrpG7 pictwittercomFfho0mWv70mdash Press Trust of India PTI_News February 12 2026PunjabIn Punjab transport workers have joined the strike in Moga Bus services have been affected in parts of the state The ruling Aam Aadmi Party AAP regime has extended support to the nationwide strike called on February 12 by the central trade unions and farmer bodiesVIDEO Punjab Transport workers join strike in support of the nationwide Bharat Bandh in Moga Bus services have been affected in parts of the state due to the strikeFull video available on PTI Videos httpstcon147TvrpG7 pictwittercomEOFPBAS6Inmdash Press Trust of India PTI_News February 12 2026With PTI and IANS inputs