General strike against labour codes held in Kalaburagi

As part of nationwide general strike, the Kalaburagi district witnessed large-scale participation of workers and farmers on Thursday during the protest against the labour codes and Centre’s policies, called by Joint Committee of Trade Unions and farmers’ organisations, with protesters accusing the Union and State governments of pursuing “anti-labour” and “anti-farmer” policies that undermine livelihoods.

The members of the trade unions and farmers organisations, including CITU, AITUC, AIUTUC, INTUC, NTUI, NCL and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), staged demonstrations across the district.

The protesters marched from the Central Bus Stand to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle, formed a human chain, and raised slogans against what they termed “anti-people governance”. The rally then proceeded to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where demonstrators briefly staged a road blockade, disrupting traffic to press their demands.

A key demand was the immediate repeal of the four labour codes, which unions described as a “death warrant for workers”. They alleged the codes dilute job security, weaken collective bargaining, and erode long-standing labour protections.

The protesters urged the State government not to implement the codes and to safeguard workers from contract system and privatisation.

The trade union leaders also opposed the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Seed Bill 2025, arguing that such measures would favour corporates at the expense of consumers and the small farmers. The agitators also criticised India–U.S. trade deals, claiming these threaten national sovereignty and the economic security of working people.

The farmers’ organisations demanded the BJP-led government at the Centre to withdraw VB-G RAM G scheme and to strengthen the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), and a statutory guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), especially for red gram.

They sought uniform compensation for crop losses due to excess rainfall, immediate disbursal of crop insurance claims, and fixation of MSP at ₹12,500 per quintal for red gram along with incentives.

The leaders alleged that compensation announced under NDRF and SDRF norms had been distributed discriminatorily, leaving many affected farmers without relief. They also accused the Centre of backtracking on its promise of a legal MSP guarantee and highlighted delays in opening procurement centres, forcing distress sales.

Leaders including K. Neela, Meenakshi Bali, Moula Mulla, Bheemashankar Madyal, M.B. Sajjan, S.R. Kollur, Padmini Kiranagi, Sharanabasappa Mamshetty, Gouramma Patil, S.M. Sharma, Prabhudeva Yalasangi, Mahesh Kumar Rathod, Shankarayya Ghanti, Lavitra Vastrad and Sudham Dhanni participated in the protest along with large numbers of farmers, agricultural labourers, ASHA workers, anganwadi staff, bank employees and members of various organisations. The organisations warned that the agitation would intensify if their demands continue to be ignored.