Bharat Bandh 2026: Trade unions protest in Chennai

The members of trade unions on Thursday (February 12, 2026) joined the country-wide general strike and staged protests across Chennai against the implementation of four labour codes which have been described as “anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national” but “pro-corporate policies of the central government.”

The group of ten central trade unions including INTUC, AITUC, CITU, AIUTUC and LPF had earlier called for a nationwide strike against the labour reforms. 

Click here to follow the live updates of Bharat Bandh on February 12, 2026

In Tamil Nadu, the nationwide protests were organised at 234 places across the State. In the capital city of Chennai, the trade unions staged major protests at five places — near Guindy post office, Tarapore Tower, Pallavaram, Ambattur and Wimco Nagar. All India vice-president of CITU A. Soundararajan led the protest near Guindy post office and over 500 protesters courted arrest. 

Similarly, 600 persons courted arrest after staging a protest led by CITU state president Sukumaran near Tarapore Tower.  After participating at the protest in Wimco Nagar railway station, S. Kannan, state general secretary of CITU said  people are strengthening their spirit of resistance to push back anti-labour policies. 

“At a time when the BJP government is moving ahead without hesitation towards a free trade agreement with the United States, it is paving the way for modern-day colonial domination. The BJP and its alliance government, by facilitating imperialist exploitation of human resources, commercial exploitation, and plunder of natural resources, are engaging in actions that are against the national interest,” said Mr. Kannan. 

In Tamil Nadu, workers in the State Transport Corporation, Electricity Board, Port, and various public sector undertakings such as NLC India Limited, BHEL Tiruchi, and Salem Steel Plant, as well as in private factories—particularly multinational companies —have gone on strike.

Similarly, workers from various unorganised sectors staged demonstrations against the anti-labour policies of the Modi government. The agitation was carried out in several forms including rail roko, protests in front of Union government offices, and road blockades, said the trade union office-bearers.