Bharat Bandh Today: 25 Crore Workers Strike, Public Services Hit Across India
A massive Bharat Bandh is across India today as over 25 crore workers from government and key public sectors begin a nationwide strike against what they call the Centre’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate” policies, with major disruptions reported in banking, transport, postal services, and power supply.
The strike, called by a joint platform of 10 central trade unions, has received support from farmer organisations and rural workers’ groups, intensifying protests across states. The workers are demanding the rollback of the four new labour codes, halting privatisation of public sector units, an end to outsourcing, and the protection of workers’ rights and job security.
Amarjeet Kaur of AITUC told PTI that the government has “ignored our 17-point demand list” and has not called the annual labour conference in the last decade, pushing the unions to proceed with the strike. Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of Hind Mazdoor Sabha stated that banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services will be significantly impacted.
The Bengal Provincial Bank Employees Association, under AIBEA, confirmed participation from the banking and insurance sectors. While today is not a formal banking holiday, operations at branches and ATMs across the country are witnessing delays and reduced staff, with reports of cash shortages in some ATMs in metro cities.
In the power sector, over 27 lakh workers are joining the strike, which may cause fluctuations and delays in electricity supply, according to union sources cited by PTI. Railways have not issued an official strike notice, but delays in train services are expected due to protests near key stations and logistical slowdowns in freight operations.
Protests have also drawn participation from workers in the informal sector, including self-employed groups like the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and from farmers’ collectives like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which was instrumental in the protests against the now-repealed farm laws.
Public sector employees from industries such as NMDC Ltd, steel plants, and segments of railway operations have also expressed solidarity with the strike, demanding the government address rising job insecurity and protect fair wage practices amid increased contract employment.
At the core of the strike is the trade unions’ opposition to the four new labour codes, which they argue undermine workers’ rights by making strikes difficult, increasing working hours, and reducing penalties on employers violating labour laws. The unions are also protesting the privatisation push in key public sectors and the outsourcing of permanent jobs, which they claim will hurt workers’ welfare and job security.
Similar nationwide strikes in 2020, 2022, and 2024 saw millions of workers participating in protests demanding pro-labour policies, but union leaders allege that repeated appeals have gone unheard, forcing them into direct action.
As the Bharat Bandh continues, police forces have been deployed in sensitive areas to prevent law and order issues, while state administrations are monitoring protests in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Social media is witnessing a surge in posts supporting the strike under hashtags like #BharatBandh and #WorkersStrike, with many users calling for the government to open dialogue with the unions.
Public inconvenience remains high, with long queues outside functional ATMs, delays in city buses, and reduced postal and banking services reported in multiple cities. State-run transport services in parts of West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are operating on reduced frequency due to staff participation in the strike.
As of now, the Centre has not issued an official statement addressing the strike, while union leaders indicate that they are prepared for further action if the government does not engage in talks to meet their demands.
