District members of the Joint Committee for Trade Unions, along with several labour and farmer organisations, participated in the nationwide Bharat Bandh on Wednesday.

Protesters carried red flags and marched from Town Hall through major city landmarks including Gandhi Square, KT Street, Irwin Road, Ayurveda Hospital Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road, and Makkaji Chowk. They raised slogans condemning the Union government for allegedly pursuing anti-worker and anti-farmer measures.

The demonstrators opposed the privatisation of public sector undertakings and demanded the withdrawal of the proposed 12-hour work policy.

Large contingents of Anganwadi and Asha workers, mid-day meal cooks, and contract employees joined the rally.

Addressing the crowd at Gandhi Square, Badagalapura Nagendra, state president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abandon policies harming workers and farmers. He accused the Prime Minister of breaking promises to end farmer suicides and criticised the Karnataka government’s decision to acquire agricultural land in Devanahalli.

All India Trade Union Congress vice-president HR Sheshdri also spoke, alleging that the Centre is undermining labour rights. He claimed over 90 crore Indians continue to earn less than ₹10,000 per month.