Bharat Bandh 9 July 2025
Over 250 million workers are on strike nationally during the Bharat Bandh on July 9, 2025.
major public services are expected to be disrupted. More than 250 million workers from vital public service industries, including banking, insurance, postal, and construction, are taking part in the Bharat Bandh (India Shutdown), a large statewide strike that is currently in progress. Workers from a number of unions are protesting what they describe as the government's "anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-national, and pro-corporate policies," which is likely to cause disruptions to services nationwide. Will Bengaluru and other cities' public transportation be impacted?
In cities like Bengaluru,
people are concerned if the cab, metro, and bus services will be affected. Although there isn't complete confirmation, disruption is probably going to happen in some places. Union resistance versus government assertions Ten central trade unions asked for the strike, and according to a Ministry of Labour source, 213 trade unions have told the ministry they will not be participating. Removing the four labor regulations and completing a 17-point charter are among the demands of the walkout. The unions contend that many workers will nonetheless take part in the strike despite the fact that not all of them provided formal notification.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS),
which is associated with the RSS, has also chosen not to endorse the strike, according to the ministry. The Central Trade Unions (CTUs), on the other hand, assert that the government is attempting to coerce and threaten workers, but they still think the strike will be successful. What demands do the trade unions have? Through a 17-point demand list, the key unions are striking mainly to demand that the new labor regulations be repealed and that improved worker safeguards be implemented.
According to a government source, among the 213 unions that formally declared their intention to refrain from striking are the Power Grid Employees' Union (under INTUC), the Bharat Electronics Limited Workers' Union (under CITU), and the Hindustan Shipyard Limited Staff Union (under AITUC). Although the ministry has indicated that it is open to talks, CTUs contend that the current administration has undermined tripartite processes such as the Indian Labour Conference, which historically involved government, employer, and worker representatives. Real worker concerns or political motivations? "Our union will not support the strike," said BMS General Secretary Ravindra Himte, who also accused other unions of using workers for political ends.
However, the government's assertions were refuted by AITUC General Secretary
Amarjeet Kaur, who stated that although some unions, including those in the military industry, are not formally on strike, they are participating in symbolic one-hour protests. Additionally, she said that management is using pressure techniques in an attempt to stifle engagement. Kaur underlined that the strike is still ongoing and will be evident in the banking, insurance, and large industrial sectors. Even employees from unions that did not formally notify the government are urged to show support, she said. The majority of workers in the informal economy will also take part, she said. She went on to say that despite the fact that India has over 16,000 registered unions, the public sector makes up the majority of the 213 non-participating unions on the government's list.