Shimla, July 9: The hill town of Shimla and other parts of Himachal Pradesh witnessed widespread participation in the nationwide general strike on Tuesday, as thousands of workers, employees, and trade union activists downed tools and took to the streets demanding reversal of anti-labour policies and better rights for the working class.
The rally, which began from CTO Chowk and culminated at The Ridge, reverberated with slogans like “Mazdoor Ekta Zindabad” and “Corporate Loot Band Karo”. Demonstrators carried placards demanding rollback of the new labour codes, an end to privatization, and restoration of the old pension scheme.
Addressing the gathering, CITU leader Comrade Rajeev Thakur said:
> “Shimla has shown the way today — workers in the hills stand shoulder to shoulder with workers in the plains. This strike is not just about wages; it is about dignity, security, and the future of India’s working class.”
The peaceful yet spirited rally brought much of Shimla’s central area to a standstill for several hours, as police diverted traffic around the protest routes. Shops in Lakkar Bazaar and Lower Bazaar remained shut in solidarity.
Trade unions termed today’s show of strength a “clear warning” to the government that the people of Himachal will not remain silent in the face of growing inequality and injustice.
Markets in the Lower Bazaar and Lakkar Bazaar areas remained largely closed, government offices saw thin attendance, and transport services were partially disrupted as Himachal’s employees and unions answered the call of national trade union federations to strikeHard against the government’s labour reforms and privatization drive.
CITU, INTUC, and AITUC activists staged protest marches at the Ridge and raised slogans in support of workers’ rights. “The so-called labour codes are nothing but an attack on workers’ hard-won rights. We demand social security, minimum wages, and an end to contractualization,” said Comrade Rajeev Thakur, a leader of the striking employees.
The strike passed off peacefully in Shimla and other districts including Solan, Mandi, and Kangra, though there were reports of minor scuffles when police tried to disperse protesters blocking roads near Dhalli Tunnel.
With trade unions calling today’s shutdown a “warning” to the government, workers vowed to continue their fight to protect jobs and dignity of labour.
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