Bharat Bandh: Chaos in Bengal, Kerala; Delhi, Mumbai unaffected

Bharat Bandh today: Left parties' trade unions are staging a 'Bharat Bandh' alleging that the central government is pushing economic reforms that weaken workers' rights. 10 Central trade unions have called the Bandh.

Defying police presence, members of the Left parties' union entered Jadavpur railway station in West Bengal to block the railway tracks to mark their protest against the central govt's "pro-corporate" policies. Left parties' unions also took out a foot march in Jadavpur

via PTI

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: The INDIA bloc on Wednesday took to the streets in protest against the Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Calling out for 'Bihar Bandh' against the decision of the Election Commission of India to revise the voter list, Congress workers blocked the railway track at Sachiwalay Halt railway station in protest.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: The trade unions allege that the government has failed to hold the annual labour conference for the past 10 years. It stated that a 17-point charter outlining its demands was submitted to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year. However, the group accuses the Centre of acting against workers' interests while favouring employers.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: Left parties' trade unions are staging a 'Bharat Bandh' in Jadavpur, West Bengal alleging that the central government is pushing economic reforms that weaken workers' rights.

Defying police presence, members of the Left parties' union entered Jadavpur railway station in West Bengal to block the railway tracks to mark their protest against the central govt's "pro-corporate" policies. Left parties' unions also took out a foot march in Jadavpur

Bharat Bandh today: In Odisha, members of Khordha District unit of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have blocked the national highway at Bhubaneswar, in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' today. 

Bharat Bandh today: In West Bengal, supporters of the strike, which began at 6 am, tried to block train movement at Diamond Harbour in the Sealdah South section and Shyamnagar in the North Section of Eastern Railways' Sealdah division.

They also tried to block roads in different parts of the state, including Jalpaiguri, Asansol and Bankura.

Bharat Bandh today: West Bengal's Kolkata bares a deserted look as shops remains shut due to the nationwide strike. As per visuals on social media and from news agencies, roads across Kolkata remain empty as well. 

The forum of 10 trade unions has called for pan-India strike in protest to the Centre's new labour codes and policies. 

“The question is of privatisation, unemployment, and inflation. PM Modi made this commitment to provide employment, but that didn’t happen. There is no future of this country. There is no new development. Therefore, the secular and Left trade unions have decided to call for a bandh against in the entire country,” Darjeeling CITU vice president, Dibas Choubey told news agency PTI

Bharat Bandh today: As per the forum of the 10 central trade unions, the Bharat Bandh 2025 marks the 22nd General Strike since the advent of neo-liberal policies in India in 1991. 

Based on a PTI report, the strike was initially called for May 20 but due to the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror strike and Operation Sindoor, the strike was postponed..

Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and several communities from rural areas, especially farmers, are also set to be participate in the Bharat bandh today. 

Bharat Bandh today: Heavy police force has been deployed near Kolkata's Jadavpur 8B bus stand and bus drivers wear helmets for protection as private and state-run buses operate in Jadavpur despite the ‘Bharat Bandh’, reported ANI. 

The 'Bharat Bandh' has been called by 10 central trade unions, alleging that the central government is pushing economic reforms that weaken workers' rights. 

Under this bandh, sectors such as state-run public transport, government offices, public sector units, banking and insurance services, postal operations, coal mining and industrial production are likely to be affected.

Bharat Bandh today: The nationwide strike of the central trade unions is expected to take place across cities in India, including Bengaluru. With public services such as banks, electricity, transport and more likely to be disrupted, Bangalore is also expected to witness some challenges.  

Bharat bandh today: The Union Labour Ministry has reportedly claimed that several trade unions supporting the nationwide strike today have withdrawn their support.

As per a report by The Hindu, the Centre claimed that around 213 unions will not be participating in the Bharat bandh today. However, the forum of the 10 central trade unions has refuted this claim as part of the government's tactic to intimidate the workers.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: With a nationwide strike set for today, Mumbai is among the cities expected to face service disruptions. 

Banks, postal services and power supply is expected to be affected, while trains, schools and most private offices are likely to remain functional amid the trade union workers protest.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: Along with the trade union and public sector employees, workers from the informal sector, self-employed groups like the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and rural communities will also participate in today's Bharat Bandh. 

The protest will also be backed by farmers' platforms such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which was at the forefront of the historic agitation against the now-repealed farm laws.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: Employees from the banking sector will join the Bharat Bandh, an association of bank employees told PTI. While no banking holiday has been announced, this could disrupt banking services across the country. In addition to this, the insurance sector might also join the strike, the Bengal Provincial Bank Employees Association said.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: In view of the Bharat Bandh on July 9, Kerala Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar said that state-run KSRTC buses would continue operating on Wednesday, despite central trade unions calling for a nationwide strike.

Speaking to reporters, the minister said the KSRTC had not received any formal notice from trade unions indicating participation in the strike.

"There is no situation in KSRTC at present that warrants employees joining the agitation," he said, adding that “as far as KSRTC is concerned, employees are happy and content. The unions have not issued any notice. KSRTC buses will run as usual.”

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: India’s electricity supply may face disturbances on July 9 due to the participation of a large number of power sector employees in the nationwide strike. 

Over 27 lakh workers from this sector are expected to join the Bharat Bandh, which could result in outages or disruptions in various parts of the country. The extent of the impact may vary by region, depending on union strength and local arrangements made by electricity boards.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: During the strile, schools and colleges will remain open. Furthermore, private offices are also expected to function normally. 

Additionally, while there is no confirmed strike of railway workers, possible delays across the rail network are expected. 

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: Due to the nationwide strike from the trade union workers today, several services such as banking, transport and more are expected to be hit. Some of the services whichc an expect disruption today are - 

• Banking and insurance services.
• Postal operations.
• Coal mining and industrial production.
• State-run public transport.
• Government offices and public sector units.
• Farmer-led rallies in rural areas.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: As per reports, the unions taking part in the strike today are - 

• All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
• Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
• Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
• Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS).
• Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA).
• Labour Progressive Federation (LPF).
• United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).

Additionally, Farmers' groups like Samyukta Kisan Morcha, rural worker unions. and public sector staff from Railways, NMDC Ltd, and steel industries have also expressed their support for the Bharat Bandh today. 

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: As per the the trade union forum, the strike is the result of months of planning within both formal and informal sectors.

Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) told news agency PTI - "The government has ignored our 17-point demand list and hasn’t even called the annual labour conference in the last 10 years."

The trade unions have added that the four new labour codes passed by Parliament undermine workers’ rights by making it more difficult to strike, increasing working hours, and shielding employers from penalties when they violate labour laws.

Furthermore, the unions are also protesting against the privatisation of public sector units, outsourcing of jobs, and the use of contract workers, which they claim threaten job security and fair wages.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: The forum of 10 central trade unions called the nationwide strike, criticising the government for not conducting the annual labour conference for the last 10 years, and alleging that the economic policies are resulting in more unemployment, rising prices of essential commodities, and depression in wages.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: Educational institutions, including schools and colleges, have not been notified of a holiday due to the Bharat bandh call and are expected to function based on their go-to schedule.

In case of any closure, the respective people, customers, and caretakers will be notified separately from the institutions.

Bharat Bandh today LIVE: A nationwide strike organised by the forum of 10 trade unions is set to take place today. Around 25 crore workers across public services such as banking, insurance, postal and construction are expected to participate.