Nationwide Bharat Bandh On July 9, 2025: Over 25 Crore Workers To Protest Government Policies
New Delhi: A massive nationwide strike or ‘Bharat Bandh,’ is set to take place on July 9, 2025, Wednesday, as a coalition of 10 central trade unions, alongside farmers’ and rural workers’ organisations, protests against the Narendra Modi government’s policies. Over 25 crore workers from sectors including banking, insurance, postal services, coal mining, steel, power, and transportation are expected to participate, potentially disrupting essential services across India.
The strike, initially planned for May 20, was postponed due to the Pahalgam terrorist attack and subsequent India-Pakistan tensions.
The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs), including Congress affiliated-INTUC, CPI(M)’s CITU, CPI’s AITUC, and HMS, has outlined a 17-point charter of demands, with a primary focus on repealing the four Labour Codes introduced in 2020. These codes, which consolidate 29 labour laws, are criticised for undermining workers’ rights to collective bargaining, striking, and organising, while extending working hours and favoring corporate interests under the guise of ‘ease of doing business.’ “The government has abandoned the welfare state model, prioritising foreign and Indian corporates,” said Amarjeet Kaur, AITUC general secretary, emphasising the strike’s role in uniting workers, farmers, and agricultural laborers.
The strike has garnered widespread support, with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (which was in the forefront of farm law protests) and agricultural workers’ groups planning large-scale rural mobilisations, including ‘rasta roko’ protests. In states like Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal, a bandh-like situation is anticipated, with buses, autos, shops, and factories likely to shut down.
The power sector, with over 27 lakh workers, will join to oppose privatisation in Uttar Pradesh’s electricity distribution. However, emergency services like hospitals, ambulances, and milk supply are exempted.
The unions also demand a national minimum wage of Rs 26,000, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, and measures to curb unemployment, inflation, and GST on essential items.
Left parties, including CPI(M) and CPI, and many parties from the INDIA bloc have extended their support, amplifying the strike’s political weight. Despite calls for dialogue, the government has not convened the Indian Labour Conference in over a decade, fueling discontent.
