Agartala, February 4, 2026: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has announced a nationwide general strike on February 12, demanding the reinstatement of the MGNREGA scheme and withdrawal of the four newly introduced labour codes.

At a press conference today, CITU state leader Shankar Prasad Dutta sharply criticized the central government’s policies, alleging that workers and farmers—the backbone of nation-building—are being pushed into hardship under its rule. He urged people from all walks of life to unite against what he termed “anti-worker” measures and ensure the success of the strike.

CITU state committee president Manik Dey echoed the sentiment, stating that the government has left workers with no choice but to resort to strike action. He argued that the new labour laws are designed to serve corporate interests while curtailing the rights of workers. According to him, nearly 90 percent of the country’s workforce, including unemployed youth and farmers, will remain outside the ambit of these laws.

Dey further pointed out that the government has scrapped 29 existing labour laws and replaced them with four labour codes, which he described as “anti-worker.” He warned that the codes would empower corporates to extend working hours from 8 to 12 hours, leaving workers vulnerable. He also criticized the discontinuation of the MGNREGA scheme in favor of the new VB-G Ramji project, calling it detrimental to the poor and rural laborers who had benefited from MGNREGA.

“The cancellation of MGNREGA will severely impact rural workers and the poor,” Dey said, urging collective resistance to defeat the government’s labour policies.

CITU has appealed to workers, farmers, employees in both public and private sectors, and the general public to participate in the February 12 strike. The organization said the action would send a strong message against the Centre’s anti-labour decisions.