Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb 12: At the call given by Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Organisations of employees, crores of workers in the organized and unorganized sectors across the country joined the All India General Strike on today (12th February 2026) to protest against imposing four labour codes in place of the existing 29 labour laws in the country.
In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, union affiliated to CITU organized Mass Dharna, procession and public meetings throughout the islands. The main programme was organised at Tiranga Park, Port Blair where hundreds of works from Port Bair town and rural South Andaman areas participated in the Mass Dharna and public meeting which was inaugurated by B. Chandrachoodan. Speaking on the occasion, B. Chandrachoodan criticized the Modi government for enacting the four Labour Codes in Parliament to suit the interests of corporate in the country. He said that Modi government is following various anti-working class policies.
Addressing the public meeting, D. Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU A & N State Committee briefly explained the disastrous consequences of the Labour Codes once it is implemented in the country. He said that thousands of outsourced workers in A&N Islands are being exploited as many of them are not being paid even the minimum wages. He said that ASHA Workers are getting a meagre amount of Rs. 2,000 per month, the lowest honorarium in the country and blamed the BJP MP and central government for this situation. He also touched upon the issues of Anganwadi Workers & Helpers, Part-time teachers and staff of Education Department, daily rated mazdoors and contract workers in the islands and demanded that the services of these workers should be regularized as a one-time measure.
R. Surendran Pillai, President, CITU State Committee, who presided over the public meeting, briefly explained various demands of daily rated workers working in various departments and part-time teachers and staff of Education Department. Dr Gouranga Majhi, President, All India Kisan Sabha, A & N State Committee also addressed the participants in the public meeting. He briefly spoke about the hardship being faced by farmers in the country.
At Diglipur, the mass dharna, procession and mass demonstration began from the morning and continued upto evening which culminated in a mass dharna in front of the office of the Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur. Sunil Bepari and Barun Biswas, President and Secretary respectively of CITU Diglipur Zonal Committee led the programme.
At Mayabunder, the workers conducted mass demonstration at Mayabunder which was led by C. Murugan, Secretary, CITU Mayabunder Zonal Committee. At Billiground, workers organized mass demonstration at Billiground bazar which was led by All India Kisan Sabha leaders Nikunjo Biswas and SR Mridha. Rahul Mridha, President, DYFI State Committee also addressed the gathering.
At Rangat, procession, mass demonstration, etc were orgnaised in the Rangat town area in which a large number of workers of Rangat and nearby areas participated. Projit Kumar Sarkar, President and Karuppaiah, Secretary of Rangat Zonal Committee of CITU led the programme.
At Kadamtala, workers conducted a mass demonstration at Kadamtala bazar, which was led by Shipra Bala, Secretary, CITU State Committee. At Baratang, procession and mass demonstration were conducted at Nilambur area in which a large number of workers participated. Daniel Aint, Vice President, CITU State Committee and R. Jayakumar, Secretary, CITU Baratang-Kadamtala Zonal Committee led the programme and addressed the participants.
At Swarajdweep (Havelock), workers conducted mass demonstration in front of the office of the Assistant Commissioner, Swarajdweep. Suben Bacher, Secretary, Swarjdweep Branch of Forest Union addressed the participants.
At Katchal in Nicobars District, workers conducted a mass demonstration which was led by Rajesh Khanna and T. Thyagarajan of ASNVMS Katchal Branch. In Great Nicobar Island, mass demonstration was held at Campbell Bay bazar area which was led by R. Dhandapani, CITU State Committee Member.