TNI Bureau: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has announced its support for the nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions on February 12. PCC president Bhakta Charan Das said the Congress is backing the protest against the Centre’s labour policies, including the removal of welfare measures such as MGNREGA and the introduction of what he termed “anti-worker” schemes and labour codes.
The strike has been called by major trade unions including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AICCTU, BMS, UTUC, LPF and SEWA, along with more than 50 independent federations representing bank, insurance, and state and central government employees. The protest is mainly against the four labour codes and the dilution of employment and social security protections.
Das said the Congress has been continuously protesting across the country through strikes, demonstrations and sit-ins against policies that he claimed harm workers, farmers and consumers. He added that the party welcomes the inclusion of issues related to MGNREGA, electricity tariffs and farmers’ problems in the February 12 strike.
In Odisha, the Congress has also been running a statewide agitation for the past two months demanding 300 units of free electricity for domestic consumers and a complete waiver of electricity charges for farmers. Das alleged that the state government’s mismanagement in seed supply, fertiliser distribution and paddy procurement has pushed farmers into distress.
The PCC has directed all District Congress Committees to extend full support to the strike, with party leaders and workers participating at the grassroots level across the state.
Earlier, a delegation led by INTUC All India Vice-President, Odisha State President and former MP Dr Ramachandra Khuntia met PCC president Bhakta Charan Das at Congress Bhavan to seek the party’s support.
The Congress leadership reiterated that the strike is aimed at protecting the collective interests of workers, farmers and consumers, and called on the government to reconsider policies that, it said, weaken labour rights and public welfare.
 has announced its support for the nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions on February 12. PCC president Bhakta Charan Das said the Congress is backing the protest against the Centre’s labour policies, including the removal of welfare measures such as MGNREGA and the introduction of what he termed “anti-worker” schemes and labour codes.){kind=link}