Bharat Bandh Today LIVE Updates: The Joint Forum of Central Trade Unions has called for a nationwide strike on February 12 and is observing a ‘Bharat Bandh’ today to protest the recently announced India-US trade deal. The agitators condemn the BJP-led central dispensation for “surrendering to US cleverness”. The strike will affect operations in more than 600 districts across the country, the union said.
The strike was called by the following 10 central trade unions:
- INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC
This nationwide strike could significantly disrupt banking services, transport and other key public services as around 30 million workers across various sectors are expected to participate in the strike.
According to the unions, the new labor laws mainly benefit companies at the expense of employees. Unions say the new labor reforms undermine labor rights, simplify hiring and firing standards, reduce legal protections and exclude many informal workers from legal protections.
Hinting at the possible impact on wages, job security and welfare, SKM president Hannan Mollah said: “The deal will be a betrayal of farmers… We are surrendering to the cleverness of the US. The government has surrendered. Piyush Goyal should resign. He has betrayed this campaign to Indian farmers on February 1, 1. SKM will go to the farmers on the 12th, Bharat Bandh has been called for this.” stated ANI.