Bharat Bandh Update: Protests Across States As Public Services Hit By Trade Unions' Strike

A Bharat Bandh called by a joint platform of ten central trade unions saw major disruptions across sectors today, as over 25 crore workers from formal and informal industries joined the protest, NDTV reported.

The strike began at 6 am, with services in key public sectors including banking, transport, postal, and coal mining facing delays and disruptions.

The protesting unions, joined by several farmers’ and rural workers’ organisations, are demonstrating against what they call the central government’s "anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate" policies.

According to Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), “Farmers and rural workers will also join the protest across the country.”

In Kolkata, workers from Left-affiliated unions blocked roads as part of the rally, prompting the police to intervene and remove them to allow traffic to pass. A brief verbal spat erupted between protestors and the Kolkata Police, reports news agency ANI.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Chennai’s Guindy area, where Left parties staged a demonstration.

Meanwhile, in Bihar, the Mahagathbandhan alliance led a separate Bihar Bandh protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list ahead of the upcoming state elections.

Prominent leaders including RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, CPI General Secretary D Raja, CPI(ML) Liberation’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, and Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram joined the protests in Patna.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, services across multiple sectors were impacted, especially in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.

Banks remained open but operations were hit due to reduced staff participation.

Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of Hind Mazdoor Sabha said, as quoted by NDTV, “Banking, postal, coal mining, factories, state transport services will be affected due to the strike.”

Despite widespread disruption in public services, schools and private offices largely remained open. Trains continued to run, though some delays were reported.

The protesting workers are demanding the withdrawal of four new labour codes, creation of jobs for youth, strengthening of public services, and the restoration of the right to unionise and strike.

Among other demands are filling government vacancies, increasing MGNREGA wages, and expanding the scheme to urban areas.

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