The nationwide Bharat bandh initiated by trade unions significantly impacted public transport in Guwahati and other areas of Assam, leading to considerable inconvenience for commuters. In Guwahati, the Assam State Transport Corporation’s (ASTC) bus services were insufficient to accommodate the rush hour demand as private buses and app-based cabs stayed off the roads. Trade union activists actively enforced the bandh, particularly in the Khanapara region of the city. Additionally, the normal operations of public sector undertakings, including banks and oil facilities, were disrupted across the state.
In Digboi, hundreds of workers from the Digboi Refinery conducted a demonstration outside the refinery to voice their grievances. Nagen Chutia, General Secretary of the Petroleum and Gas Workers Federation of India, emphasized that this protest underscored workers’ unwillingness to remain silent in light of the government’s proposed labour codes, which they believe threaten workers’ rights. He warned that if their demands remain unaddressed, the protests could escalate. Chutia criticized the ruling BJP government for allegedly harassing the common people and attempting to privatize industries.
The bandh also caused a significant impact in Dhubri district, where transport services and banking operations were halted, further affecting daily life. The Bharat Bandh was called by over ten central trade unions, receiving support from farmers’ organizations, and is primarily a protest against the government’s new labour codes as well as policies perceived as anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate. This 12-hour bandh is scheduled to conclude at 6 pm.
