Bharat Bandh Today | Bank Strike on July 9

Bharat Bandh Today: Banking Strike Face Major Disruption on July 9

India is witnessing a significant nationwide general strike, or **Bharat Bandh**, today, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Called by a joint platform of ten central trade unions, along with various farmers' and rural workers' organizations, this mega protest aims to highlight alleged "anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies" of the Central government. With over 25 crore workers across diverse sectors expected to participate, the strike is causing widespread disruptions, most notably impacting essential services like banking across the country.

Table of Contents

• 1. The Nationwide Protest: What is the Bharat Bandh?
• 2. Banking Services: A Key Sector Under Strain
• 3. Core Demands and Union Grievances
• 4. Beyond Banking: Other Sectors Impacted
• 5. Regional Disruptions: A State-by-State Look
• 6. Government Response and Public Preparedness
• 7. Looking Ahead: The Future of Labour Relations in India

The Nationwide Protest: What is the Bharat Bandh?

The Bharat Bandh, a call for a nationwide general strike, has been organized by a formidable coalition of ten central trade unions, including prominent names like INTUC, AITUC, CITU, and HMS. They are joined by various farmers' organizations, notably the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), and rural workers' associations. This collective action aims to voice strong dissent against the Central government's economic and labor policies, which the unions contend are detrimental to the welfare of workers and farmers while disproportionately favoring corporate interests.

Originally planned for an earlier date, the strike was deferred to July 9, 2025, to allow for broader mobilization and a larger impact. Organizers anticipate the participation of over 25 crore (250 million) workers from both formal and informal sectors, making it one of the largest coordinated protests in recent Indian history. Beyond simply staying away from work, unions are conducting massive demonstrations, rallies, and road blockades in state capitals, district headquarters, and major industrial hubs across the country, signifying the widespread discontent.

Banking Services: A Key Sector Under Strain

While July 9 is not a designated bank holiday by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banking services are facing significant disruption due to the active participation of various bank employees' associations, including the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA). Employees from public sector banks and cooperative banks, in particular, have joined the strike in large numbers, leading to the closure of many branch operations. This widespread participation is causing considerable inconvenience to customers across the nation.

The impact on banking operations is multifaceted:

• **Branch Operations:** Many public and cooperative bank branches are either shut or operating with minimal staff, severely limiting over-the-counter services.
• **Cheque Clearing:** The normal process of cheque clearing is expected to be significantly delayed or completely halted in affected regions.
• **Cash Transactions:** Cash deposits and withdrawals at branches are difficult, pushing customers towards ATMs, which themselves might face replenishment issues if the strike prolongs.
• **Loan Processing & Account Services:** Critical services like loan applications, account opening, and other customer queries are likely to experience substantial delays.

Digital banking services (net banking, mobile banking, UPI) are expected to remain largely unaffected, providing some relief. However, for those reliant on physical branch services, the day presents significant challenges.

3. Core Demands and Union Grievances

The striking unions have put forth a comprehensive 17-point charter of demands, which they claim the government has largely ignored. Key grievances driving the Bharat Bandh include:

• **Opposition to Labour Codes:** A central point of contention is the implementation of the four new labour codes passed by Parliament. Unions allege these codes weaken workers' rights, dilute collective bargaining power, extend working hours, and decriminalize violations by employers.
• **End to Privatisation:** Strong opposition to the ongoing privatization of public sector enterprises and public services, including banks, insurance companies, and critical utilities like power distribution.
• **Employment and Wages:** Demands for increased government jobs, regular recruitment against sanctioned posts, a national minimum wage of ₹26,000 per month, and strengthening of rural (MGNREGS) and introduction of urban employment guarantee schemes.
• **Old Pension Scheme:** Reinstatement of the old pension scheme.
• **Farmers' Issues:** Farmers' organizations are protesting rising unemployment, high prices of essential goods, and cuts in welfare budgets. They also demand Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops as per the Swaminathan Commission formula and comprehensive loan waivers.
• **Democratic Rights:** Concerns over the alleged misuse of constitutional institutions to suppress dissent and new state laws restricting protests.

Unions argue that the government has not held the annual Indian Labour Conference for a decade, signaling a lack of engagement with workers' concerns.

4. Beyond Banking: Other Sectors Impacted

While banking is heavily impacted, the Bharat Bandh's reach extends to several other crucial sectors:

• **Public Transport:** State transport buses, taxis, and some app-based cab services are experiencing disruptions or delays. While metro services and air travel are largely unaffected, road-based commutes are facing significant challenges due to rallies and roadblocks.
• **Postal Services:** Postal departments are seeing reduced staffing, leading to delays in mail delivery and other essential services.
• **Coal and Power:** Workers from coal mining (e.g., Western Coalfields Limited) and the power sector (e.g., Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd) have joined the strike, potentially affecting coal extraction, dispatch, and leading to localized power outages. An estimated 27 lakh (2.7 million) power sector workers are participating.
• **Government Offices & PSUs:** Many government offices and Public Sector Units may experience reduced staffing and slower operations due to employee participation.
• **Industrial Production:** Industries, especially those in manufacturing and heavy sectors, are likely to see impacts due to worker absenteeism.

However, essential services such as hospitals, police stations, and fire departments are operating normally, and schools, colleges, and most private offices are expected to remain open, though commuters should anticipate travel delays.

5. Regional Disruptions: A State-by-State Look

The intensity of the Bharat Bandh varies across different states:

• **West Bengal:** Has seen significant disruptions with strike supporters blocking railway tracks at locations like Diamond Harbour and Shyamnagar, and attempting road blockades in Jalpaiguri, Asansol, and Bankura. Police have resorted to lathicharge in some areas to control clashes. Shops remain shut in Siliguri.
• **Kerala:** Witnessed a near-total shutdown in many districts like Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, and Kasaragod. Public transport services are largely suspended, and most commercial establishments are closed in solidarity.
• **Odisha:** Members of the CITU blocked a national highway in Bhubaneswar as part of their protest.
• **Bihar:** The situation is intensified by a separate "Bihar Bandh" called by the INDIA Bloc on the same day, protesting a controversial voter list revision. This has led to intensified disruptions, with railway tracks and national highways blocked in areas like Jehanabad and Patna. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is expected to join protests in Patna.
• **Gujarat:** Banking operations are significantly disrupted, with roughly 20,000 bank staff off duty, impacting crores of transactions.
• **Karnataka (Bengaluru):** Expects major disruptions, especially in banking, postal services, insurance, and state-run transport. Heavy traffic is reported near protest sites like Freedom Park.
• **Tamil Nadu:** While normal bus services continue in Chennai, Kerala-bound buses were halted in Coimbatore, and some regions like Puducherry saw localized closures.

Authorities across all states have deployed additional security forces and implemented contingency transport arrangements to ensure public safety and maintain law and order.

6. Government Response and Public Preparedness

The Central government has largely maintained that its policies are aimed at economic reforms and increasing ease of doing business. However, unions allege that the government has not engaged meaningfully with their charter of demands, particularly regarding the contentious labour codes and the delay in holding the annual Indian Labour Conference.

For citizens, awareness and preparedness have been key. Many had stocked up on cash or opted for digital transactions in anticipation of banking disruptions. Commuters were advised to check traffic advisories and use alternative routes or modes of transport where possible. Emergency services have been on high alert to respond to any unforeseen incidents, ensuring critical public safety nets remain unaffected.

7. Looking Ahead: The Future of Labour Relations in India

The Bharat Bandh on July 9, 2025, underscores the persistent tensions between the government's reform agenda and the demands of organized labor and farmer groups. While the immediate impact is visible in service disruptions, the larger significance lies in the ongoing debate about workers' rights, social security, and economic justice in India. The unions' resolute stance highlights their determination to resist policies they perceive as detrimental to the common populace and beneficial primarily to corporate interests.

As the day progresses, the focus will shift to the government's response to these protests and whether this nationwide demonstration will lead to a renewed dialogue on the contentious issues at hand. The success of such bandhs is often measured not just by the disruption caused, but by their ability to bring issues to the forefront of national discourse and influence policy decisions. For India's millions of workers and farmers, the hope is that their collective voice today will pave the way for policies that truly prioritize their welfare and foster equitable growth.