India, July 8 -- Over 25 crore workers - from sectors ranging from banking, insurance, postal services to coal mining - are expected to participate in a nationwide general strike on Wednesday. The strike, called by a joint forum of 10 central trade unions, has been described as a 'Bharat Bandh' to protest against what the unions label as "anti-worker, anti-farmer, and anti-national pro-corporate policies" of the central government.

The trade unions have issued a call to "make the nationwide general strike a grand success," citing months of intensive preparations across formal and informal sectors. "More than 25 crore workers are expected to take part in the strike. Farmers and rural workers will also join the protest across the country,"...