Bharat Bandh Halts Transport, Banking In Kerala & Tamil Nadu As Trade Unions Protest New Labour Laws (VISUALS)

Public life across several states was severely disrupted on Wednesday, July 9, as the Bharat Bandh called by ten central trade unions (CTUs) drew large-scale participation from workers in key sectors.

From halted buses in Kerala to bank employees walking off their jobs, the daylong strike was a show of strength against what unions described as the government’s “anti-worker” policies.

The strike, supported by workers in banking, insurance, postal, mining, construction, and transport sectors, centres around a 17-point charter of demands and has drawn strong criticism of recent labour law amendments and the introduction of new labour codes.

Travel Disrupted In Kerala

The bandh took the form of a near-complete shutdown in Kerala, where private and public stage carriage and long-distance services were almost entirely halted. Families travelling with children, many of whom arrived at railway stations and airports, were left stranded due to the suspension of transport services.

Public transportation in other states also saw partial disruption, although the impact varied by region. Protesters and union members staged demonstrations in several cities, calling for a rollback of recent policy decisions by the central government that they say undermine workers' rights and job security.

Banking, Postal, and Industrial Sectors Join In

Despite the Union Labour Ministry’s statement on Tuesday that over 200 unions, including the Sangh-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), had opted out of the strike, the shutdown saw wide participation. On Monday, July 7, a major bank employees’ association announced its support for the strike, further amplifying the impact.

Union spokespersons reiterated that the bandh is a reaction to the dilution of worker protections and the centralisation of labour laws under the new codes. “This is not just a strike, it’s a resistance against systemic erosion of labour rights,” a protest organiser said, as quoted by The Hindu.

Police in Erode, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, removed members of various trade unions who had staged a road blockade as part of the Bharat Bandh called in protest against the Union government's policies.

Elsewhere in the state, CPI(M) workers held demonstrations opposing the newly introduced labour laws. In Chennai, employees from the banking and insurance sectors also extended their support, staging a protest outside the LIC office on Anna Salai.

Published on: Wednesday, July 09, 2025, 01:10 PM IST