The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has declared its backing for the upcoming nationwide strike organized by various central trade unions on February 12. This support is in protest against what they perceive as anti-people legislations and policy measures advocated by the Union Government. OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das highlighted the party’s opposition to the introduction of the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB–G RAM G) by the central government, which seeks to replace the long-standing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Das emphasized that the Congress party’s decision to join the strike aligns with the stance of 10 central trade unions and over 50 independent organizations from various sectors. These groups are protesting against the scrapping of MGNREGA and demanding the withdrawal of four labor codes enacted by the Union Government. Notably, the Odisha Congress has been actively organizing statewide agitations for the past two months, advocating for 300 units of free electricity for households and complete electricity charges exemption for farmers.
The OPCC President raised concerns about the challenges faced by farmers in Odisha due to alleged mismanagement in the procurement of essential commodities like paddy and urea. He commended the central trade unions for addressing critical issues such as MGNREGA, electricity provisions, and the agricultural sector in their call for the nationwide strike. Additionally, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) recently sought the support of OPCC for the strike during a meeting at the Congress state headquarters in Bhubaneswar.
