AITUC, CITU, INTUC and more than 10 central trade unions called a nationwide Hartal against the policies of Central Government. Here is a report...
...a look at the response to the bandh across the country:
Noida: Bandh turns violent, protesters torch vehicles.
A two-day all-India industrial shutdown turned violent Wednesday as mobs of workers attacked factories that were open and set fire to vehicles of their owners as well as fire tenders.
At least one factory complex was also torched, officials and witnesses said.
CPIM leader Brinda Karat said that while she did not condone the Noida violence, it was a sign that the government needed to care for workers.
“I am not justifying the violence in Noida. But you need to investigate first before blaming anyone,” she told IBN7.
The finance ministry issued a statement urging government bank employees not to join the strike. Reuters
The finance ministry also issued a statement urging government bank employees not to join the strike.
Reuters
Ambala: Railways worker killed
Narender Singh, the treasurer of a AITUC union was stabbed to death near the Ambala bus stand by some miscreants who wanted to take out buses from the depot despite the strike,” AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said in New Delhi.
However other reports said that the Haryana Roadways employee was killed when he was crushed by a bus following a confusion called over the trade union strike.
Kerala: Near complete shutdown
The 48-hour nationwide strike called by central trade unions badly hit normal life across Kerala today with workers from varied sectors, including transport and banking, staying away from work to protest the UPA government’s economic and labour policies.
Early reports said buses and taxis were off the roads and shops and restaurants remained closed. Train services were not affected.
Emergency services like health care, milk supply and media have been exempted from the strike, AITUC leader Kanam Rajendran said.
Odisha, Patna: Trains halted
According to CNN-IBN reports there have been protests at the Patna Railway station by striking workers. Protestors in Odisha also stopped trains during demonstrations.
Thousands of people were stranded across Bihar as trains were stopped and key highways blocked by activists affiliated to various trade unions that have called for a nationwide two-day strike.
Workers of trade unions stopped nearly a dozen passenger and long-distance trains at Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Hajipur, Bhagalpur and Darbhanga railway stations.
Uttar Pradesh: Buses ply without conductors
NDTV reports that state owned buses in the state are operating without conductors who are participating in the strike. How they’re collecting fares is a little bit of a mystery. Auto-rickshaws have remained off the road.
Karnataka: Mixed response to bandh
Barring stray incidents of stone pelting in Bellary, the nationwide strike called by 11 trade unions in support of their demands evoked a mixed response across Karnataka.
Sources said some persons pelted stones at some buses and blocked roads in Bellary while normal life was hit in Koppal, with buses, autorickshaws and other transport off the roads, officials said.
In Bangalore, no untoward incidents were reported. Shops and educational institutes remained closed, while state transport services operated lesser number of buses. Autos were off roads and there was no disruption in train services.
West Bengal: Despite Didi’s warning, state sees near shutdown
Buses, taxis and auto rickshaws largely kept off the roads and many people stayed indoors in Kolkata and other districts of West
Bengal on Wednesday, despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warning shops and markets to remain open or face administrative action.
Flight services were normal and trains plied despite minor disruptions.
Left-ruled Tripura grinds to a halt
Most markets, shops and business establishments, government offices, educational institutions, banks and financial institutions were shut. Roads were deserted and rail services between Tripura and the rest of the country were also affected.
However, air services on the Agartala-Kolkata and Agartala-Guwahati routes have been operating normally, an Agartala airport official told IANS.
Buses between Tripura and Bangladesh and other northeastern states were also hit.
Haryana: Bharat bandh claims first life, as trade union leader killed in Ambala
Narender Singh, the treasurer of a AITUC union was stabbed to death near the Ambala bus stand by some miscreants who wanted to take out buses from the depot despite the strike,” AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said in New Delhi.
However other reports said that the Haryana Roadways employee was killed when he was crushed by a bus following a confusion called over the trade union strike.
Jaipur: Public transport, banking affected
Public transport and banking were affected in the Rajasthan capital Wednesday on the first day of the two-day countrywide strike called by various unions protesting the government’s alleged anti-people and anti-labour policies and inability to control price rise.
Though schools and colleges were open in the city, attendance of students was thin as buses and autorickshaws stayed off the roads.
Rajasthan: Banking, mines and trains crippled
Government and private sector banks remained shut in Ranchi and other parts of the state. Mining activities in Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) were affected.
“There is a partial impact on coal production in some collieries. In many collieries, production is normal. Coal transportation has been affected partially,” Deepak Kumar, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of CCL told IANS.
According to a BCCL official, coal production has been affected in some collieries and the worst affected area of work is coal transportation.
Trains were stopped in Dhanbad, Bokaro and other parts of the state by supporters of the strike.
The worst affected sector was banking. Besides government banks, even private ones were shut.
