Workers converge around Town Hall in Bengaluru in response to strike call in protest against new labour codes

Thousands of workers and trade union activists gathered at Town Hall in Bengaluru in response to the general strike called by the joint committee of trade unions against the four labour codes on February 12.

The workers who demanded repeal of the labour codes, were detained, arrested and removed from the spot by the police. 

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“The labour codes are anti-worker and exploitative. We demand immediate repeal of all four codes,” said one of the protesters.

Trade unionists from CITU, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, AIUTUC, AICCTU, TUCC and HMKP took part in the protest.

Workers also gathered and held processions across industrial areas, including at Jigani, Bommasandra, Hoskote, Doddaballapura, Whitefield, Nelamangala and Dobaspete, where factories were shut down.

As the number of protesters swelled and Town Hall area started witnessing tense scenes, the police were seen asking passengers of BMTC buses to alight so as to transport the protesting workers away from the spot. The police removed close to 10 busloads of workers from the Town Hall area.

According to a female commuuer, “Police forced us to get out of the bus. When we protested, they cut us off saying we are travelling for free and can look for an alternative bus.”