Public life across several Indian states was partially disrupted on Wednesday as a result of the Bharat Bandh 2025, a nationwide strike called by ten central trade unions (CTUs). The strike was organized to protest the Union government’s labour and economic policies, with demonstrators rallying behind a 17-point charter of demands.

While the nationwide impact was uneven, the strike caused major disruptions in public transportation and affected daily services, especially in Kerala, Jharkhand, Puducherry, and parts of Odisha. The bandh received support from multiple political outfits, civil society groups, and trade union members, who staged demonstrations in cities and towns.

Public Transport Hit in Several States

In Kerala, the strike was strongly enforced, leading to a near-total halt of private and public bus services, both for intra-city commutes and long-distance travel. Hundreds of passengers, including women and children, were left stranded at railway stations and airports, unable to find local transport amid the shutdown.

Similar scenarios were witnessed in parts of Jharkhand and Puducherry, where commuters struggled due to a sharp fall in the availability of public vehicles. Protesters were seen blocking roads, organizing sit-ins, and chanting slogans against government labour reforms.

Central Government’s Response and Non-Participation

The Union Labour Ministry issued a statement ahead of the strike, noting that 213 labour unions, including the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), had informed the Ministry that they would not participate in the Bharat Bandh.

According to the government, the strike is being led by politically motivated trade unions that are not representative of all worker groups. The Ministry urged other unions to refrain from “indulging in disruptive activities” that impact public convenience and essential services.

Despite this, major CTUs, including INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC, rallied behind the strike, which had been planned for weeks in protest of multiple policy decisions.

Why Are Workers Protesting?

The 17-point charter of demands that the unions have submitted includes:

• Withdrawal of the four labour codes that were passed by Parliament in 2020

• Protection of minimum wages and social security for all workers

• Scrapping of privatization policies involving PSUs, railways, and defence

• Universalisation of the Public Distribution System (PDS)

• Control on price rise, especially of essential goods

• Ensuring employment security and regulation of contractual labour

• Implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS)

The unions argue that recent central government policies have weakened labour protections, encouraged mass contractualization, and opened the door for unregulated privatization. These, they say, hurt millions of working-class families.

Political Parties Join Protests

In states like Odisha and West Bengal, leaders from Left parties, Congress, and regional parties joined hands with union activists, organizing road blockades and marches in major cities. In Bhubaneswar, large groups of protesters were seen sitting on roads and stopping traffic as a form of civil disobedience.

Police and security personnel were deployed in key urban areas to prevent any untoward incidents, though the protests remained largely peaceful.

Banking Sector Also Joins Strike

Adding to the scope of the protest, an association of public sector bank employees had earlier announced that the banking sector would participate in the Bharat Bandh. While operations at major branches remained functional in metro cities, several smaller town branches witnessed reduced staff turnout, slowing banking services and customer support.

Digital transactions and ATMs were mostly unaffected, but in-person banking services like cheque clearances, account updates, and loan consultations were delayed in several states.

Bharat Bandh 2025: What’s Open and What’s Affected?

As per ground reports:

• Schools and Colleges: Remained open in most states, though some institutions declared a holiday in Kerala and West Bengal.

• Healthcare Services: Hospitals and clinics functioned normally, though access to some rural areas was delayed due to transport issues.

• Metro and Rail Services: Continued to operate but saw fewer passengers and isolated delays.

• Shops and Markets: Remained closed in areas where political parties actively supported the bandh.

• IT and Private Offices: Functioned normally, with many companies allowing employees to work from home.

• Government Offices: Open across most states but experienced low attendance in areas with strong protest presence.

Public Reaction and Inconvenience

While the trade unions emphasized the need for collective action to defend worker rights, several citizens expressed frustration at the lack of public transport, especially in states where the strike was implemented with force.

One commuter in Kochi said, “I support the cause, but I wish there were advance arrangements for families and elderly travelers arriving today. We had no way to get home from the railway station.”

Others echoed similar concerns about emergency services and accessibility, urging for better coordinated protest strategies in the future.

What Happens Next?

Following the Bharat Bandh, trade union leaders are expected to submit a memorandum to the Labour Ministry, reiterating their demands. If the government fails to address key concerns, unions have warned of more intensive and prolonged agitation in the coming months.

Political analysts suggest that the Bharat Bandh 2025 marks the beginning of a renewed phase of labour activism, especially in the context of the upcoming state elections and the broader debate over workers’ rights in a digital economy.

The Bharat Bandh held on July 9, 2025, while not nationwide in the strictest sense, sent a strong signal about growing dissatisfaction among Indian workers over economic inequality, job security, and privatization.

While the central government has maintained that reforms are necessary for growth, trade unions argue that these must not come at the cost of the working class. With over 10 national unions involved and support from political parties, the strike marks one of the largest coordinated protests in recent years.