Shimla, Feb. 13 -- Protest demonstrations, sit-in dharnas were held in Shimla and other parts of the district as a part of the nationwide strike called by central trade unions and various federations, farmers, labourers, and employees. Hundreds of employees and workers gathered in Shimla for a rally from the Panchayat Bhawan to the DC office. More than 15,000 power engineers and employees of the state are on a day-long pen and tool down strike. During this, outsourced employees serving in various departments of Himachal, 108 ambulance workers, treatment plant employees, employees working in power projects, street vendors and Tehbazari union, hotel workers, construction workers, MNREGA workers, industry workers, mid-day meal workers, bank, electricity, BSNL and LIC employees also joined the strike. President of CITU Himachal Pradesh, Vijendra Mehra, said "Today, across the country, 10 central trade unions, including CITU, along with dozens of national federations working in the government and non-government sectors, have called for this nationwide strike. This strike has received the support of hundreds of farmers' organisations, student groups, youth and women's organisations," Mehra said. According to Mehra, the strike is primarily against the implementation of the four Labour Codes, which were notified on November 21, 2025. The Himachal Apple Growers Association, along with CITU and Himachal Kisan Sabha, actively participated in the nationwide farmers workers strike called on Thursday, extending full support to the agitation. During the protest, participants raised demands including the repeal of the four "anti-worker" labour codes, a halt to the eviction of farmers from their land and homes, provision of cultivable land to landless and poor farmers, withdrawal of what they termed anti-farmer tariff policies and Free Trade Agreements, imposition of adequate import duty on foreign apples, implementation of a legally guaranteed MSP for all crops, and proper compensation for losses caused by natural disasters and development projects. Sanjay Chauhan, convener of the Himachal Apple Growers Association, said, "Policy makers and the central government are focused on protecting the interests of large corporate houses, while the rights of farmers, workers and the common people are being consistently sidelined." The state Congress supported nationwide Bharat Bandh of trade unions, farmers. State Congress president Vinay Kumar accused the central Modi government of considering the trade deal with the US to be against the country's interests. About 15,000 employees and engineers across the state observed a one-day pen-down strike....