The two-day nationwide strike by central trade unions to protest against alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms entered its second day on Wednesday, impacting normal life in some parts of the country.
According to the reports, public transport and banking services remain disrupted for the second day in some states.
The 10 central trade unions (CTUs) which have given a call for the two-day Bharat Bandh are protesting the government’s snub of their 12-point charter of demands seeking minimum wage of Rs 18,000, social security for all workers and issue related to price rise.
All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told PTI that there will be a complete bandh in Goa and Bihar, while 100 percent strike is expected in other parts of the country too.
She said that due to UGC exams, which started from Tuesday, some state transport departments would not participate completely in the strike in the interest of students.
The exams are scheduled in some states on Wednesday as well. The strike had received mixed response on Tuesday.
The educational institutes, rail, banking, postal and transport services are expected to witness disruption on Wednesday too.
According to News18, very few Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses are plying within Bangalore. The report also said that most KSRTC buses have turned out in the state on the second-day of the strike.
The few BMTC buses which are operating are likely to return to the depot as the employees fear protests.
In the national capital, workers plan to march from Mandi House to Parliament at noon today.
In Kerala, train services were hit due to the bandh. India Today reported that trains were stopped from departing at Thiruvananthapuram, Tripunithura and Shoranur stations.
Strike supporters also attacked the SBI main branch in Thiruvananthapuram, according to Hindustan Times, and destroyed office equipment and furniture. Police has booked 20 persons in this regard, the report added.
Violence in West Bengal
Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from parts of West Bengal. Stones were pelted at school buses in Howrah district, police said. The police later on reached the spot and dispersed the protesters, a police officer said.
Protesters also vandalised a school bus in Cooch Behar district, injuring two people.
Two students were also injured in the Howrah district after protesters started pelting stones at a bus at Shanpur Mor on the Jhikira-Howrah route, reported ANI.
Senior CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty was arrested once again on Wednesday for taking out a rally at a bus stand in Jadavpur, officials said.
Chakraborty had been arrested on Tuesday for taking out a rally in support of the strike and was released in the evening.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said on Tuesday that there will be no bandh in Bengal.
“I do not want to spend a single word on this. In West Bengal, we have taken a stand of not supporting any bandh. Enough is enough. In the last 34 years, they (Left Front) have destroyed the state by calling bandh. There will be no bandh,” Banerjee was quoted as saying by PTI.
(With PTI inputs)