On July 9, 2025, India came to a standstill as over 25 crore workers, backed by a coalition of 10 central trade unions and supported by farmers’ and rural workers’ organizations, unleashed a nationwide Bharat Bandh. The streets of Kolkata, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, and beyond were filled with fiery protests, blocked roads, and burning tires, as workers from banking, postal services, coal mining, electricity, and public transport sectors halted operations to demand justice. The strike, one of the largest in recent years, was a resounding cry against what unions call the central government’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate” policies, spotlighting a 17-point charter of demands that has been ignored for over a decade. From railway tracks in West Bengal to silent highways in Kerala, the Bharat Bandh sent a powerful message: workers’ rights can no longer be sidelined.
The Spark of the Strike
The Bharat Bandh was orchestrated by a formidable alliance of trade unions, including the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), and Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), among others. These unions, representing both formal and informal sector workers, united to protest policies they argue favor corporate giants like Adani and Ambani while eroding labor protections. The strike, which began at midnight on July 8, 2025, saw an estimated 25 crore workers—roughly one-fifth of India’s population—join forces, disrupting key sectors and sending shockwaves across urban and rural landscapes.
The unions’ grievances center on the four labor codes passed in 2020, which they claim weaken trade union power, extend working hours, decriminalize employer violations, and make strikes harder to organize. “The government has ignored our 17-point demand list and hasn’t even called the annual labour conference in the last 10 years,” said Amarjeet Kaur of AITUC, speaking to PTI. Other demands include a minimum wage of ₹26,000 per month, reinstatement of the old pension scheme, halting privatization of public sector units (PSUs), and addressing unemployment through job creation. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), known for its 2020-21 farm law protests, bolstered the bandh with rural demonstrations, demanding a minimum support price (MSP) based on the Swaminathan Commission’s formula and loan waivers for farmers.
A Nation Disrupted
The Bharat Bandh’s impact was felt from India’s metropolitan hubs to its rural heartlands. In Kolkata, Left-led unions blocked railway tracks at Jadavpur station and set tires ablaze, clashing with police who struggled to maintain order. Visuals shared on X by @ANI showed Kolkata Police dousing fires and clearing roads to allow buses to pass, with drivers wearing helmets for protection amid the chaos. In Siliguri, state-run bus services ground to a halt, leaving commuters stranded. Kerala, under Left rule, saw a near-complete shutdown, with private buses, autos, and tempos off the roads in Kochi and Kozhikode. Protesters in Kochi blocked a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus, prompting drivers to seek police protection.
In Odisha, CITU members blocked the national highway in Bhubaneswar, while Jharkhand’s coal production and dispatch stopped entirely as workers joined the strike. Chennai saw demonstrations in Guindy, and in Puducherry, public transport was paralyzed. Hyderabad braced for disruptions, with lakhs of workers from public and private sectors participating. Even in states like Bihar, where the bandh coincided with unrest over voter list revisions ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections, protests intensified, with CPI(ML) leader Amarjeet Kushwaha accusing the BJP-led government of electoral manipulation.
Despite the widespread disruptions, some services remained operational. The Indian stock markets (BSE and NSE) functioned normally, opening at 9 a.m. and closing at 3:30 p.m. Schools, colleges, and government offices were not officially closed, though participation from teachers and employees caused partial disruptions, with some universities postponing exams. Emergency services, including hospitals, were largely unaffected, but banking, postal, and electricity services faced significant interruptions, particularly in public sector and cooperative banks.
Voices from the Ground
The bandh was not just a logistical shutdown but a visceral expression of workers’ frustrations. CITU General Secretary Tapan Kumar Sen told PTI, “The focus is on scrapping the 2020 labour codes, which aim to destroy the trade union movement and dismantle democratic structures.” In Bhubaneswar, CITU’s Khordha District president, Suresh Routray, declared to ANI, “Modi govt is supporting only Adani and Ambani but not the labourers. We demand a minimum pension of ₹9,000 per month.” In Jharkhand, coal miners and Left party members rallied in Ranchi, echoing demands for higher wages and job security.
Farmers’ unions from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Karnataka amplified the protests in rural areas, linking their fight for MSP and loan waivers to the workers’ cause. Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of HMS told Business Standard that banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services were among the hardest hit, reflecting months of intensive planning across sectors. A bus driver in Jadavpur, speaking to ANI, captured the bittersweet reality: “These people are saying the right thing, but we have to do our work. We support the bandh, but we’re wearing helmets in case something happens.”
A History of Resistance
This Bharat Bandh is the 22nd general strike since India’s neoliberal reforms began in 1991, with previous actions in 2020, 2022, and 2024 drawing millions of workers. Each time, the core issues—privatization, job insecurity, and labor law erosion—have remained unresolved. The 2020 labor codes, which consolidate 44 labor laws into four, have been a flashpoint, criticized for prioritizing employer flexibility over worker protections. The codes, unions argue, make it easier for companies to hire contract workers, extend work hours, and evade penalties for violations, while restricting collective bargaining.
The bandh also highlighted broader economic discontent. The privatization of PSUs, such as power distribution companies in Uttar Pradesh, has mobilized over 27 lakh power sector employees. The unions’ demand for more MGNREGA working days and urban equivalents reflects the growing precarity of informal workers, who form a significant chunk of the 25 crore participants. The involvement of SKM and rural labor groups underscores the intersection of urban and rural struggles, with farmers facing similar challenges from policies perceived as favoring corporate interests.
Challenges and Confrontations
The strike was not without resistance. In West Bengal, clashes erupted between TMC members and trade union leaders in Naxalbari, as reported by @ANI on X, while Kolkata Police used lathicharges in Howrah to disperse protesters blocking railway tracks. The Tamil Nadu government warned public employees against participating, citing the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1973. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), affiliated with the RSS, notably did not support the bandh, creating a divide among trade unions.
Public response was mixed. While urban commuters faced disruptions, some expressed solidarity. A Kolkata commuter told Hindustan Times, “The bandh is a hassle, but the workers’ demands are valid. The government needs to listen.” Others, particularly small business owners, worried about economic losses, with markets in Left-leaning states like Kerala and Puducherry shutting down entirely.
The Road Ahead
The Bharat Bandh of July 9, 2025, marks a critical juncture in India’s labor movement. The unions’ 17-point charter, submitted to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in 2024, remains unaddressed, and the absence of the Indian Labour Conference for a decade signals a breakdown in tripartite dialogue. As CITU’s Tapan Kumar Sen warned, the labor codes threaten the democratic fabric of India’s trade union movement, a concern echoed by protesters nationwide.
The strike’s scale—mobilizing 25 crore workers across formal and informal sectors—demonstrates the depth of discontent. Yet, its success hinges on whether the government responds. Past bandhs have forced policy pauses, but systemic change remains elusive. The alliance of trade unions and farmers’ groups suggests a growing coalition against neoliberal reforms, potentially reshaping India’s economic and political landscape.
As the dust settles on burning streets and silent buses, the Bharat Bandh 2025 stands as a testament to workers’ resilience and their demand for dignity, fair wages, and job security. Whether the government will heed their call or continue to prioritize corporate interests remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: India’s workers are not backing down.
Last Updated on: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 2:29 pm by Shashivardhan Reddy | Published by: Shashivardhan Reddy on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 2:29 pm | News Categories: News
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