Samprikta Bose
WEST Bengal emerged as a powerful epicentre of the July 9 nationwide general strike, with unprecedented working-class participation across all sectors protesting anti-people policies of the central government. Despite adverse weather conditions, the strike paralysed normal life in many districts. However, the ruling party and police reportedly responded with aggressive repression, including assaults on peaceful protesters, including an 80-year-old woman – drawing sharp public outrage. Many accused the ruling party of aligning with central government’s policies, pointing to the absence of their affiliated unions and the violent crackdown on strikers.
North 24 Parganas witnessed a significant and effective strike. From early morning, roads, factory gates, markets, bus stands, and railway crossings were blocked across industrial, urban, and rural areas. Public support was widespread. Persistent picketing and marches brought routine movement to a halt. Banks, insurance companies, and post offices were picketed. While police acted aggressively in several areas, resulting in arrests and scuffles, most detainees were later released following local protests. Train services were disrupted in Belgharia, Khardaha, Barrackpore, and Ichhapore-Shyamnagar. Small factories shut down, and nearly all ICDS centres remained closed. Even major IT firms in Bidhannagar's Sector 5 saw drastically low attendance.
In Asansol-Durgapur, a major industrial region, the strike led to intense confrontations. Protesters alleged planned attacks by the ruling party with police backing. A senior citizen was reportedly pushed and nearly run over by a tractor in Asansol, sparking mass protests. In Benachiti, ruling party members attacked striking bank workers and a protest rally with sticks, but public resistance forced them to retreat. Massive protest marches followed. The banking sector reported nearly 100 per cent strike participation, barring a few private banks.
The Barrackpore Industrial Belt came to a standstill, despite heavy rains. Jute mills and factories shut down following strong trade union action. Ferry services were suspended, and blockades triggered confrontations with police. Banks and insurance offices remained closed.
Kolkata experienced severe disruptions. A city-wide strike affected normal life, with over 50 arrests amid joint police-ruling party crackdowns. Despite repression, trade unions and working-class people ensured massive participation. Marches and road blockades took place in multiple areas, including tyre burnings in Jadavpur. Kolkata Port reported full participation. In Burrabazar, 90 per cent of shops were closed; College Street saw low university attendance. Despite attempts to disperse them, protests continued throughout the city.
Nadia district saw protesters block roads, picket bus and railway stations, and shut down banks and insurance offices. Ferry services stopped, markets closed, and courts remained largely vacant. Police arrested protesters in multiple areas, though most were released due to public pressure.
In South 24 Parganas, jute mill and industrial workers shut down operations, private transport was halted, ferry services suspended, and even fishermen joined the strike. Banks, post offices, and rail services were affected.
West and East Medinipur districts witnessed police brutality. In West Medinipur, lathi-charges injured and detained several protesters. Medinipur College and government offices saw minimal attendance. In East Medinipur, railway blockades and office sieges occurred amid police repression, including assaults on women. Attempts to forcibly open banks failed, as employees stayed away. Vehicular movement and worker attendance in Haldia were significantly reduced.
STUDENT PROTESTS
On July 9, a rally organised by the Students' Federation of India (SFI) in Kolkata, in support of the nationwide general strike, led to confrontations between student activists and the police. Participants in the march faced police brutality and arrests. Female protesters were molested. The demonstration began in front of the Calcutta University campus on College Street.
Following the arrests, SFI and DYFI activists launched a protest blockade in the College Street area. All arrested individuals were released later in the day.
The new labour codes and extended working hours were central concerns for the student community, particularly affecting working students and reinforcing the shared struggles between students and the broader working class. In solidarity with the strike, students picketed educational institutions. Calcutta and Jadavpur University campuses suspended classes, closed administrative offices, and shut down canteens.
ABHAYA MANCHA
SOLIDARITY
Abhaya Mancha held its monthly programme on July 9, continuing its commitment to justice for victims like Abhaya. Despite challenging weather, the programme expressed full solidarity with the nationwide strike and demanded justice for Tamanna, a student of South Calcutta Law College – linking local student issues with the national worker-student movement.
The day began with a rally from Moulali to Rajabazar, concluding in a public meeting. Strong turnout, despite adverse conditions and strike-related disruptions, underscored the determination of the participants and the resonance of the movement’s demands.
Tripura
THE ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by ten national trade unions on July 9 received a spontaneous and widespread response from the people of Tripura, defying physical resistance from ruling party forces. All attempts by the ruling BJP to foil the bandh call failed miserably.
An exception was made in Agartala town, where bandh conveners relaxed the call for the transport sector, particularly due to the week-long ‘Kharchi Festival’ at Old Agartala – a tribal festival attended in large numbers by both tribal and Bengali communities. Even so, most business establishments in Agartala remained closed.
Marketplaces in sub-divisional areas wore a deserted look. Despite threats from BJP supporters to shopkeepers and vehicle owners to keep their businesses open and vehicles running, 80 per cent defied such pressure. Though some shops were opened under duress, there were hardly any customers. Some vehicle owners, also forced to operate, ran their vehicles with very few passengers, and by afternoon, most had stopped due to lack of commuters. No inter-state buses operated from Agartala on the day.
The state government issued a circular threatening departmental action against absent employees to enforce attendance in government offices. Still, public footfall remained minimal. In central government undertakings – such as banks, insurance companies, ONGC, and BSNL – functioning came to a standstill due to the absence of the majority of employees.
At a press meet in the CITU office, Left trade union leaders congratulated the people of Tripura for their overwhelming support to the bandh. They also thanked shopkeepers and vehicle owners who, despite facing threats and being unable to participate physically, extended moral support to the bandh’s demands.
CITU state president Manik Dey and secretary Sankar Prasad Datta expressed hope that the government would take a lesson from the people's resounding support and change itself to respect and fulfil the aspirations of the people.
