Protesting the government's new labour and farm laws, central trade unions are observing a nationwide Bharat Bandh today. While in Kerala, the bandh is near total, in West Bengal and Odisha protests have been seen. In few places in Kolkata, protesters have clashed with the police. Left-backed trade union members blocked railway tracks in some areas of Bengal. In parts of Odisha, rallies have been taken out by trade union members. There are no reports of banking services being affected. Protesting trade union members have started gathering at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Trade Union leaders have said around 25 crores of workers in the country are part of the Bharat Bandh today.
Members of Odisha Nirmana Sramik Federation, All India Central Council of Trade Unions and All Orissa Petrol and Diesel Pump Workers' Union took out protest rallies. "The government has enacted laws which are against the labour and are supporting the employer. After these laws, most of the industries in India will not come under labour laws...We are demanding the withdrawal of labour code and repeal of three farm laws," Mahendra Parida, National Secretary, All India Council Of Central Trade Unions (AICCTU) told news agency ANI.
In Kerala, shops are closed and and state buses are off the roads. Normal life in Kerala has been hit as government offices are closed and banking services have been hit. Private buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are also off the road.
Ten central unions including the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC), Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and others are participating in the Bharat Bandh. The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), has said that it will not participate in the strike.
In Bengal, the trade union wing of the ruling Trinamool Congress, is not opposing the Bharat Bandh. In a note, the Bengal government however said it is against bandhs and all its offices will remain open today.
Amid Bharat Bandh In Bihar, Mob Removes Burning Tire From Below School Bus Bharat Bandh Today As Opposition, Dalit Groups Protest Top Court's Quota Order 'Bharat Bandh' Today Over Supreme Court's Quota Ruling. Details Here Putin Responds To Biden's Missile Approval By Changing Nuclear Doctrine Late Flight, Emergency Landing, Stuck For 3 Days: Indian Fliers' Nightmare Explained: Why Delhi's AQI Was 494 Today But International Monitor Said 1,600 The Logistics Of Trump's Deportation Dream Are Not So Pretty Fans Mourn Death Of Paul Teal After 'One Tree Hill' Star Dies At 35 'Bomb Cyclone' To Soak US's California With 8 Trillion Gallons Of Rain Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.