On July 9th, a Bharat Bandh was observed to voice opposition to the central government’s perceived ‘anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate’ policies. The strike witnessed the participation of over 25 crore public service workers nationwide. The action was called by a joint platform of 10 trade unions, who accused the government of obstructing the country’s growth during the ongoing unemployment crisis.
Workers from the banking and insurance sectors, rural and farm unions (Samyukta Kisan Morcha), postal services, state transport, coal mining, and factories joined the strike. Potential impacts included disruptions in banking and postal operations, public transport, and in the coal and steel production sectors. Schools, colleges, and private offices were slated to remain open.
The trade unions highlighted the risk of job losses due to privatization, the government’s alleged indifference to a 17-point charter, and the implementation of new labor codes as key issues. The public was cautioned about potential travel delays and urged to check their travel timings beforehand.