Chicago – July 09, 2025
On Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of workers across India took part in a massive strike against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to privatize state-owned companies and other economic changes. The strike caused major disruptions in public services and factories, as trade unions, farmers, and rural workers joined forces to protest.
A group of 10 powerful trade unions organized the one-day strike, calling it “Bharat Bandh,” meaning “Shut Down India.” Their goal was to challenge Modi’s government, which has been trying to make it easier for foreign companies to invest by changing labor laws.
The strikes led to chaos in various sectors. Coal mining operations were stopped in multiple states, trains were blocked, and public services like banks and supermarkets were disrupted. In Kolkata, protesters marched at a local railway station, shouting slogans against the government and even burning an effigy of Modi. The unrest highlights growing frustration with Modi’s economic policies and the BJP government.
