In one of the biggest nationwide strikes of recent times, nearly 25 crore workers across the country joined the Bharat Bandh on Tuesday, July 9, 2025. The massive protest, led by 10 central trade unions and supported by several farmers’ groups, disrupted banking, transport, and essential services in several parts of the country.
The strike is being held against the central government’s alleged anti-labour policies, including the implementation of four new labour codes, widespread privatisation of public sector units, and lack of job security. Workers from banking, insurance, mining, transport, and other public sector industries took to the streets, raising slogans and staging demonstrations.
The strike was called jointly by trade unions including INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, and AICCTU, demanding the following:
Withdrawal of the four labour codes
Reinstatement of the old pension scheme
Regularisation of contract and scheme workers
Opposition to privatisation of PSUs and defence units
Immediate implementation of minimum wages of ₹26,000/month
Restoration of ILO-convention-based labour rights
According to the joint platform of central trade unions, the Modi-led government has consistently ignored dialogue with labour organisations, undermining years of collective bargaining efforts.
Impact Across the Country
Banking Services Hit
The banking sector bore the brunt of the protest, with employees from major public and private sector banks participating in the bandh.
In Gujarat, operations in over 3,600 bank branches were disrupted, with approximately ₹15,000 crore worth of transactions affected. Similar scenes were reported from Kolkata, Mumbai, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) stated that employees from State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Canara Bank, and Bank of Baroda joined the protest in large numbers, affecting cheque clearances, loan processing, and branch-level operations.
Public Transport Disruptions
In several states, public transport services were disrupted, especially in West Bengal, Odisha, and Kerala.
In West Bengal, protesters blocked major roads in Kolkata, Howrah, and Shyamnagar. Police were seen using mild force to disperse crowds at several locations.
In Odisha, CITU activists blocked national highways in Bhubaneswar, halting movement of goods and public vehicles for hours.
Kerala witnessed large-scale support for the strike. While the state government insisted buses would run normally, KSRTC services were off-road in many districts including Kottayam and Alappuzha.
In contrast, Chennai and Mumbai witnessed normal transport operations with minimal disruptions, although union members were seen staging symbolic protests.
Shops, Schools, and Public Offices
The effect of the strike on educational institutions was mixed.
In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, several private schools declared a holiday, while government schools remained open.
In West Bengal, a few schools closed operations early citing transport concerns.
In Kerala, some private institutions chose to shut down in solidarity with the workers.
Government offices remained open in most states, but attendance was reportedly low in PSU-run facilities, mining regions, and post offices.
Police Presence and Clashes
In several protest-heavy regions, police presence was ramped up to prevent any untoward incidents.
In Howrah, minor clashes were reported between trade union activists and police forces as protesters tried to stop buses.
In Darjeeling, skirmishes broke out between Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers and bandh supporters near Naxalbari.
Bhubaneswar saw mass picketing and road blockades, but no major violence was reported.
States like Maharashtra, Delhi, and Karnataka reported peaceful protests, with symbolic rallies and speeches held at labour commissioner offices and industrial zones.
Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of AITUC, stated:
“The government has failed to engage in any meaningful dialogue with trade unions for over a decade. Workers have no choice but to strike back against corporate favouritism and erosion of rights.”
Tapan Sen, General Secretary of CITU, said:
“This is not just a strike. It is a warning to the government that we will not accept anti-labour and pro-corporate laws imposed without consensus.”
Many workers accused the government of selling public assets to corporate giants and destroying the future of India’s working class.
The central government dismissed the bandh as “politically motivated.” Union Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav said the labour codes were meant to “modernize labour laws and protect workers’ welfare” and accused the unions of spreading misinformation.
State governments, particularly in Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, remained on high alert, issuing instructions to maintain law and order. No major violence or arrests were reported till evening.
Authorities advised citizens to:
Avoid non-essential travel in protest-heavy areas
Check with local authorities before visiting banks and public offices
Use digital platforms for banking wherever possible
Despite the disruption, emergency services including hospitals, fire, police, and milk supplies functioned normally in most parts of the country.
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