Bharat Bandh: India is set to witness a massive strike on Wednesday as over 25 crore workers from various sectors are expected to take part in a Bharat Bandh. From banking and insurance to postal services, coal mining and transport, the protest is likely to disrupt normal life across the country.
The strike has been called by a joint forum of 10 major central trade unions, who are protesting against what they call the “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies” of the central government. People working in both the formal and informal sectors have been preparing for months, and now they’re ready to hit the streets together. Farmers and rural workers have also pledged to join the protest, which could lead to large-scale demonstrations in many states.
According to Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), this isn’t just a symbolic protest — workers from all corners of the country are coming together to make their voices heard. She said this massive movement is being carried out to push back against unfair policies that ignore the interests of working people.
Essential public services are expected to be hit. Banks, post offices, coal mines, factories, and state-run transport services may face shutdowns or slowdowns. Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha added that workers have reached a breaking point and are now coming out strongly to demand justice.
At the centre of the protest is a 17-point charter of demands that the unions submitted to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year. But they say there has been no response. Union leaders are upset that the national labour conference—a meeting where important issues related to workers are discussed—has not been held in the last 10 years. This, they say, shows how little the government cares about the labour force.
In a joint statement, the unions accused the government of pushing labour reforms that are damaging to workers’ rights. The newly introduced four labour codes are a major reason behind the unrest. According to the unions, these codes will reduce the power of trade unions, make it easier for employers to break rules without punishment, increase working hours, and take away workers’ rights to strike and bargain collectively.
The unions believe the government is slowly moving away from being a welfare state and instead working in favour of large private corporates, both Indian and foreign. They are also strongly opposing the privatisation of public sector units, saying it will destroy job security and lead to more contract and casual jobs.
In rural India too, large support is building. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a major farmers’ group, along with agricultural labour unions, has promised full support to the bandh. They’ve said they will organise large gatherings and rallies in villages and small towns, showing that the discontent is not just in cities, but in the heartland as well.
This is not the first time such a protest has taken place. In recent years, trade unions have organised similar nationwide strikes — on November 26, 2020, March 28-29, 2022, and February 16, 2024 — to voice the same concerns. But this time, the numbers seem even bigger, and the anger on the ground is stronger.
With such a large mobilisation expected, people across the country are advised to plan their day carefully on Wednesday. Banks may remain closed, transport could be disrupted, and other government services might be affected. But beyond the inconvenience, this bandh is a powerful signal — workers, farmers, and common people are coming together to say they will no longer stay silent when their rights are under threat.
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