By Tripura24 News Desk | Agartala
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
AGARTALA: On the eve of the historic Nationwide General Strike, the Tripura state units of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) held a joint press conference today. The leadership issued a clarion call to the workers, farmers, and common citizens of the state to make the February 12 Strike a total success to protest against the “anti-people and pro-corporate” policies of the Central Government.
Resisting the Attack on Labor and Agriculture
Addressing the media, senior leaders from both organizations emphasized that the strike is not merely a symbolic protest but a “survival struggle” for the working class and the peasantry. They argued that the recent legislative changes have systematically dismantled the social security net that once protected the poor.
“The central government is on a mission to sell the country’s assets to a few corporate giants. From the four draconian Labor Codes to the India-US trade deals that threaten our farmers, every move is aimed at snatching the rights of the common man. Tomorrow, the people will strike back,” a senior AITUC leader stated during the briefing.
Core Demands of the Movement
The AITUC and AIKS highlighted a specific charter of demands that will be at the forefront of tomorrow’s mobilization:
- Scrapping of Labor Codes: Immediate withdrawal of the four new labor codes that replace 29 protective laws.
- Restoration of MGNREGA: Scrapping the VB-G RAM G Act 2025 and restoring the original MGNREGA with a guarantee of 200 days of work and a minimum wage of ₹600.
- MSP Guarantee: Legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops based on the Swaminathan Commission recommendations ($C2+50\%$).
- Opposing Privatization: Halting the privatization of public sector undertakings (PSUs), including banks, insurance, and the power sector.
- Withdrawal of New Bills: Dropping the Draft Seed Bill and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025, which the unions claim will lead to a hike in power tariffs and corporate control over farming.
Preparations for Tomorrow’s ‘Chakka Jam’
The leaders informed that strike committees have been formed down to the village level across Tripura.
- Transport & Markets: The unions have requested transport operators and merchant associations to keep vehicles off the road and shops closed to show solidarity with the workers.
- Banking Services: Most public sector bank unions have already served strike notices, meaning banking services are likely to be severely disrupted tomorrow.
- Essential Services: Emergency services, including hospitals, milk supply, and media, have been exempted from the strike’s purview.
Appeal for Public Solidarity
The AIKS leadership specifically reached out to the rural population of Tripura, explaining how the new trade agreements could flood the local markets with cheap imported agricultural goods, thereby “breaking the backbone” of local farmers. They urged the youth and students to join the picketing lines at various junctions in Agartala and the district headquarters.
The press conference concluded with a warning to the state administration against using force to break the strike. The unions reiterated that the strike is a democratic right enshrined in the Constitution to defend the welfare character of the Indian state.
