On July 9, 2025, ten central trade unions, along with several farmer and rural worker organisations, conducted a 24-hour nationwide strike named Bharat Bandh. The strike was aimed at opposing government policies that the groups allege favour corporations over workers and farmers. Sectors including banking, transportation, power, mining, and public services experienced significant disruption due to the protest.
Widespread Participation Across Sectors and States
The trade unions claimed that over 25 crore (250 million) workers across India participated in the bandh. States such as West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Karnataka, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh witnessed large-scale demonstrations. Workers from both organised and unorganised sectors joined, including those from banks, insurance companies, public health, mining, telecom, postal services, and railways.
Farmers’ groups, especially the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, also extended support to the protest, highlighting their grievances over inflation, farm pricing policies, and pending demands from earlier agitations.
Core Demands of the Protest
The protest was based on a 17-point charter of demands, which included:
- Repeal of the four newly enacted labour codes, which unions say weaken rights related to working hours, union formation, and the right to strike.
- Stopping the privatisation of public sector undertakings, including Indian Railways, banks, and major industries.
- Ending contract-based employment and ensuring permanent job opportunities.
- Establishing a national minimum wage of ₹26,000 per month.
- Expanding rural job schemes such as MGNREGA and introducing similar employment programs in urban areas.
- Guaranteeing fair crop prices in line with the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations and waiving farm loans.
The trade unions accused the government of prioritising corporate interests and foreign investors while undermining the job security and livelihoods of Indian workers and farmers.
Impact Across Key Sectors
Transport and Railways: Train services were suspended or delayed in various regions including Kolkata, Odisha, Bihar, and parts of Maharashtra. Roads were blocked by demonstrators in several cities, affecting public mobility.
Banking and Financial Services: Banks, especially in Gujarat, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, remained closed. Financial transactions were disrupted, with unions estimating losses of thousands of crores due to halted operations.
Power and Mining: Coal and copper mining activities were halted in states like Odisha and Jharkhand. Power sector employees in large numbers also joined the strike, affecting maintenance and supply operations.
Postal and Telecom Services: These sectors saw partial shutdowns, especially in smaller towns and districts.
Education and Markets: Some private schools in Kerala and Puducherry closed for the day, while government institutions remained open. Markets in Odisha, Assam, and other protest-heavy regions stayed shut.
Scenes from the Ground
In Kolkata, demonstrators assembled at train stations and held symbolic protests. In Mumbai, public sector workers staged rallies and shouted slogans against privatisation. In Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, women health workers and rural staff joined en masse. Police detained several protestors in some states to prevent roadblocks or disruptions.
Government and Administrative Response
While the central government did not release a direct response to the protest, many state governments took measures to ensure public order. In West Bengal, additional police forces were deployed to secure banks and transport stations. In Tamil Nadu, law enforcement reported detaining over 30,000 protestors across the state. Essential services were largely maintained.
In Gujarat, trade union leaders claimed the strike impacted ₹15,000 crore worth of banking transactions across nearly 3,700 branches.
Looking Ahead
The participating unions announced their intent to continue pressuring the government unless their demands are met. They warned of further protests and industrial actions if the labour codes are not repealed and job protections are not strengthened.
The Bharat Bandh served as a strong statement of dissatisfaction with the current economic and labour policies. It highlighted the growing tension between the government’s reform-driven agenda and the workers’ demand for job security, fair wages, and equitable growth.
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