The nationwide strike call given by 10 central trade unions evoked a mixed response in most parts of the country with Bengal, Odisha and Kerala remaining the epicentres where normal life, traffic and movement of trains was badly hit as protesters thronged the roads in hundreds. Most parts of Maharashtra, Delhi and Goa remained unaffected.
As many as 500 protesters were detained in Bhubaneshwar while two MPs of Left parties were among 800 workers of eight trade unions who were arrested while attempting to stage a demonstration as part of the nationwide strike.
The demonstration was led by CPI Lok Sabha MP, K Subbaryan, who is also Tamil Nadu AITUC president and CPI(M) MP, P R Natarajan.
In what was billed as a nationwide shutdown against the anti-people policies of the ruling dispensation with PM Narendra Modi at the helm, central trade unions had claimed the support of about 25 crore people in joining the bandh.
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Employees of Ordnance Cable Factory extended their support to All India strike called by trade unions against the policies of the Central government.
These factory workers were protesting against demanded that the ordnance factories should not be handed over to the corporate sector and, rather, it should remain under the control of the Defence Ministry.
“These factories were built by the British to fulfil the demands of ammunition. We don’t want these factories to be handed over the corporate sector. We will continue our protests until our demands are met,’ one of the protesters was quoted as saying by ANI.
The strike threw normal life out of gear in Kerala. In the wake of the strike, all the shops were closed and private vehicles were kept off the roads. Besides, banking services in the state also came to a standstill as around 25,000 employees and officers joined the strike.
The state transport utility Kerala State Road Transportation (KSRTC) is also not operating any services as the employees associated with various trade unions have joined the nationwide bandh.
No major untoward incidents were reported baring a few minor incidents of protestors forcing shops to close in various places in the state.
About 15 lakh power sector employees and engineers across the country went on strike in support of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call given by the trade unions.
Power sector employees were protesting against the Centre’s proposed amendments to the Electricity Act as well as other privatisation policies of the government, which they say are against the interest of the consumers and employees.
Protesters were seen raising slogans outside Jadavpur University in Kolkata and Hooghly following the trade unions’ call for Bharat Bandh. Protesters also blocked the railway track at Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas.
Shops were shut in Siliguri where a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus driver was seen wearing a helmet while driving in the wake of protests during the strike.
The Bharat Bandh has been called by all 10 Central trade unions along with different federations. The unions including AIUTUC, CITU, INTUC, among others have given the call for the strike with a 12-point charter of demand. Trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is not taking part in the strike.
The protesters’ demand includes the dropping of the proposed labour reforms by the Centre. An official statement by the trade unions on the response to the strike is awaited.
With Inputs From Agencies
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