India Just Had One of the World’s Biggest Protests. Here’s Why You Didn’t Notice

On July 9, 2025, India witnessed yet another Bharat Bandh: a nationwide strike called by a coalition of 10 major trade unions and allied organisations. More than 25 crore workers from various sectors, including postal services, banking, coal mining, and public transport, were expected to participate in this large-scale protest against what they described as the anti-worker policies of the Indian government.

The strike was spearheaded by a forum of central trade unions and supported by farmer organisations and rural worker associations. Their protest centred around 17 long-standing demands submitted to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in 2023, demands that, according to the unions, have remained largely unaddressed. Among the most critical grievances was the non-convening of the Indian Labour Conference, which has not been held in a decade — a move the unions view as symbolic of the government’s neglect of workers’ rights and concerns.

The organisers also raised alarms over growing privatisation, contractualisation, and outsourcing of public sector jobs, all of which they believe threaten job security and worker welfare. In a statement, the forum said:

“We are demanding action on unemployment, recruitment for sanctioned posts, more job creation, increased MGNREGA wages and workdays, and a similar employment scheme for urban areas. Instead, the government is prioritising incentives to employers through the ELI (Employment Linked Incentive) scheme.”

Further criticism was directed at the government’s proposed four labour codes, which unions argue aim to dilute protections, curtail trade union rights, extend working hours, and remove criminal liability for labour law violations.

Though the impact of the bandh varied across states and sectors, its presence was felt in several parts of the country. Here’s how it unfolded on the ground:

Delhi

Despite the nationwide call, the capital city remained largely unaffected. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) confirmed that all 700 markets and 56 industrial areas functioned as usual. Key commercial hubs like Connaught Place and Khan Market operated normally, with traders calling it a “regular working day.”

Karnataka

In Mysuru, union leaders and activists from organisations like CITU, AIUTUC, and AIKMS staged rallies and marches, raising slogans against both central and state governments. While the city’s industrial belt saw limited disruption, the unions emphasised the symbolic weight of their protest.

Tamil Nadu

In Madurai, trade union activists staged a road-roko in front of the railway junction. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President Selvaperunthagai expressed support, recalling the Congress-era legacy of progressive labour legislation.

Assam

The bandh had a strong impact here. Commercial vehicles, including buses and trucks, stayed off roads. Tea garden workers and other union members staged protests across the state. Guwahati saw a near halt in public transportation, affecting thousands of commuters.

Telangana

In Hyderabad, a sea of red flags moved through major roads. Union members, daily wage labourers, and activists carried banners and chanted slogans demanding stronger labour laws.

Maharashtra

In Mumbai, bank employees joined the strike, voicing opposition to the privatisation of public sector banks.

This Bharat Bandh is not an isolated event. Similar strikes were held on November 26, 2020, March 28–29, 2022, and February 16, 2024. Each of these witnessed robust participation across sectors and echoed demands related to workers’ rights, anti-privatisation, and agricultural reform.

The concept of Bharat Bandh has its roots in post-independence India, particularly within left-leaning political ideologies that used mass shutdowns to highlight systemic injustices. Over the decades, its scope has expanded. Today’s bandhs are as much about economic justice as they are about political accountability. They are not legally sanctioned strikes but forms of civil disobedience, meant to disrupt the everyday to draw attention to long-standing issues.

Its growing use by trade unions, farmer groups, and civil society organisations underlines its role in expressing grassroots dissent.

While Bharat Bandhs undeniably demonstrate mass mobilisation and discontent, their actual policy impact remains debatable. Critics argue that these shutdowns are increasingly symbolic, with limited influence on government decisions. Additionally, they often disrupt daily life, inconveniencing citizens more than they influence policy frameworks.

In Delhi and other major urban centres, bandh fatigue is evident. Commercial hubs no longer shut shop reflexively. Employers and employees alike often view such events as routine, moments that make noise but rarely move the needle.

At its core, however, Bharat Bandh reflects a deeply rooted democratic impulse: the right to protest, to organise, and to demand change. It is a moment of collective pause, where the working classes make themselves heard in a system that often sidelines them.

But its recurring nature and growing disconnect from tangible outcomes also raise questions. Can there be a more effective and less disruptive way for labour voices to reach the policymaking table? Is the bandh still a relevant tool of resistance, or is it becoming a ritual that fatigues rather than galvanises?

As India continues to evolve economically and politically, the challenge will be to strike a balance between civil resistance and civil inconvenience, ensuring that workers’ voices are not lost while also acknowledging the public’s right to uninterrupted access to daily life.

---