Nationwide strike on July 9: 10 trade unions protest Modi govt's 'anti-worker, anti-farmer' policies
New Delhi: Ten central trade unions have announced a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, July 9, to protest against what they call the Narendra Modi government's "anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies." The unions are opposing the implementation of four new labour codes and the recently introduced Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme.
The striking unions include INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC. They have also condemned the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling it a “conspiracy to strip working people of their voting rights and citizenship,” thereby weakening their collective bargaining power.
Trade union leaders warned that in states like Bihar, Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, the strike could take the form of a complete bandh, with support from Opposition parties, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, and other allied groups.
Originally scheduled for May 20, the strike was postponed following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
At a joint press conference on Monday, AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur criticised the Centre for inviting unions for a last-minute meeting “without any agenda.” She said the government has been aware of the strike call and charter of demands since March 18 but made no effort for meaningful dialogue.
She further alleged that the Modi government is pushing labour codes through state-level rulemaking without addressing workers’ concerns. Despite this, resistance from workers has prevented private companies from implementing measures like longer working hours, she added.
CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen condemned the ELI scheme as a “system of slavery” that seeks to replace permanent workers with temporary interns and apprentices. He questioned the government's ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) narrative, pointing out the declining industrial production.
A statement from the Platform of Central Trade Unions noted that the government has not convened the Indian Labour Conference in the last decade and continues to sideline worker interests, promoting ease of business for employers at the cost of workers' rights.
Key demands include:
- Rollback of the four new labour codes
- End to privatisation and outsourcing in public services
- Restoration of trade union rights, including the right to strike
- Reinstatement of the Indian Labour Conference
- Action against rising casualisation and contractualisation of labour
- Withdrawal of the ELI scheme
The unions allege the government’s actions are designed to weaken collective bargaining, decriminalise employer violations, and criminalise union activity, marking a serious threat to India’s labour movement.
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Kangana Ranaut sparks row: Claims Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem
New Delhi: A significant political controversy has erupted following the Modi government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. The row was further fueled by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who, while defending the name change, erroneously claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had made the devotional song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" India’s national anthem.
The central government has rebranded the flagship rural employment scheme from MGNREGA to the "Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission," abbreviated as VB-G RAM G. The removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme has been termed an insult to the Father of the Nation by the Congress and other opposition parties.
When questioned by the media outside Parliament regarding the opposition's allegations, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut defended the government's decision by invoking Mahatma Gandhi's devotion to Lord Ram.
"How is naming it 'Ram Ji' an insult to Gandhi ji?" Ranaut asked. "Mahatma Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem to organize the entire country. Therefore, this is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi? The government is fulfilling his dream by giving it the name of Ram."
Ranaut's claim regarding the national anthem was immediately seized upon by the opposition. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the video of Ranaut’s statement on social media, tweeting sarcastically, "Come on brother, today we learned a new national anthem! The BJP is full of such gems."
Social media users also trolled the MP for the factual error. One user quipped, "Kangana ji forgot to mention that Bapu made this the national anthem after the country got independence in 2014," while another commented that the party finds people who "don't use their brains while forwarding WhatsApp messages."
Beyond the social media mockery, senior Congress leaders criticised the renaming on ideological grounds. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the move.
"The biggest irony is that Mahatma Gandhi was a lifelong devotee of Lord Ram and said 'Hey Ram' in his last moments," Gehlot wrote. "Today, the central government is making a despicable attempt to sideline Gandhi ji under the guise of the same 'Ram' name (VB-G RAM G), which is highly condemnable."
मनरेगा का नाम बदलने की केंद्र सरकार की कवायद महात्मा गांधी के प्रति उनकी ओछी मानसिकता और असम्मान का प्रमाण है। सरकार पहले 'पूज्य बापू' के नाम का शिगूफा छोड़ती है और फजीहत होने पर अब 'विकसित भारत-गारंटी फॉर रोजगार एंड आजीविका मिशन (VB-G RAM G)' जैसा नाम थोपना चाहती है। बार-बार नाम…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 15, 2025
गांधी जी ने ‘रघुपति राघव राजा राम’ को लेकर नेशनल एंथम बनाया था
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 16, 2025
BJP MP कंगना रनौत
चलो भाई आज नया नेशनल एंथम भी पता चला है!
BJP में एक से एक शिरोमणि भरे पड़े हैं 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/9DvyV5xLb1
