Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Congress has extended support to the nationwide general strike called by various central trade unions on February 12 against replacement of MGNREGA, new labour codes, certain budgetary allocations, and the Indo-US trade agreement.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das issued a press statement justifying the party’s support, highlighting ongoing nationwide Congress protests against “Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025” (VB–G RAM G), which was introduced by the NDA government by repealing MGNREGA.
The strike has been jointly called by 10 major central trade unions, including the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), along with over 50 independent groups representing bank employees, insurance workers, and state and central government staff.
Farmer organisations under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) have also extended support, condemning related
measures such as proposed changes to agriculture through bills.
Union leaders Elamaram Kareem (CITU), Vijoo Krishnan (AIKS), and B Venkat (AIAWU, in a joint statement, earlier said that dismantling the rights-based employment guarantee, shifting fiscal responsibility to the states and banning work during harvest seasons to ensure cheap labour would deepen rural distress. They further claimed that decision to allow 100 per cent FDI in the insurance sector, the proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, the Draft Seed Bill, and the Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, were a direct attack on agriculture, education, electricity consumers, and public sector institutions.
They are also demanding the repeal of the four labour codes — enacted to consolidate 29 existing labour laws — which they claim favour corporate interests over workers’ protections.
In Odisha, all District Congress Committees have been organising statewide agitations for the past two months, demanding 300 units of free electricity for households and a complete waiver of electricity charges for farmers.
Das also pointed to severe hardships faced by farmers in the state due to alleged mismanagement in paddy procurement, urea supply, and other essential inputs. He praised the central trade unions for prioritising key issues like MGNREGA preservation, electricity access, and farmers’ welfare in their strike call.
The Congress’ statement followed a meeting between INTUC delegation and Das at the party’s state headquarters in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, seeking support for the February 12 strike.