Effects of all India strike: Tremors at Khwairamband, banks closed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 08 2020: Even though the all India general strike called by Central Trade Unions today did not affect Manipur in a significant way, some effects could be felt on the normal day to day activities of the State.

In response to the strike call, all banks in Imphal and other districts remained closed for the day.

Khwairamband Keithel was most affected by the strike with far lesser number of people thronging the market compared to other days.

Most of the shops and business establishments at Thangal and Paona bazar remained closed.

The number of passenger and commercial vehicles also remained low.

However, the general strike did not affect the number of private vehicles on the road.

The strike also did not affect any flight service in the State.

It may be mentioned that 10 Central Trade Unions called the all India general strike opposing the policies of the Narendra Modi Government as well as putting forward 14 various demands.

This is the 4th time such all India bandh (supported by bank unions, farmer organisations and teacher associations) has been called ever since the Modi Government came to power back in 2014.On the other hand, the Co-ordinating Body of Trade Unions Manipur has expressed gratitude to the people and the employees and labourers for successful enforcement of the general strike in the State.

The all India strike was mostly felt at Kerala with normal life affected and the public transport services keeping off the roads and banking services hit as the 24 hour Nation-wide labour union strike was total there on Wednesday.

Roads across the State wore a deserted look as Kerala State Transport Corporation (KSRTC), private buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis stayed away but a few private vehicles were seen plying.

Schools and colleges had declared a holiday for today and three major universities in the State had postponed all the examinations.

Shops, hotels and other business establishments were also shut across the State despite the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, an organisation of traders, stating that they would remain open.

However, medical shops were seen open at all major towns.

As Sabarimala pilgrims have been exempted from the strike, KSRTC buses are taking Ayyappa devotees to Pamba.

The pilgrimage was not affected and the hilltop shrine of Lord Ayyappa has been witnessing heavy rush.

With trade unions of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and Opposition Congress-headed UDF participating in the strike, most of the Government staff did not turn up at the Secretariat here.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other Ministers also did not attend office.

The weekly State Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday was held on Tuesday.

Banking operations also took a hit as most of the PSU bank branches remained shut.

A majority of the 1200 banks of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Kerala are shut, banking sources said.

Coimabtore : Two MPs of Left parties were among 800 workers of eight trade unions who were arrested on Wednesday while attempting to stage a demonstration as part of the Nationwide strike to protest the "anti-labour" policies of the BJP-led Government at the Centre.

The demonstration was led by CPI Lok Sabha MP, K Subbaryan, who is also Tamil Nadu AITUC president and CPI(M) MP, PR Natarajan.

They shouted slogans against the amendment to Labour laws and economic slowdown, among others.

As the workers attempted to stage demonstration near the district collectorate, police arrested them.

Similar protests were held at Valparai, Pollachi and Mettupalayam in the district and Tirupur, police said.

About 15,000 autorickshaws in the city did not ply in support of the bandh, they said.

However, a majority of the Government buses and also private ones plied as usual, police said.

Meanwhile, with the strike being reported total in Kerala, Tamil Nadu Government buses operating to that State did not ply.

Goods vehicles were stopped at Walayar on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, sources said.

Rajasthan: Banking and roadways services were partially affected as members of trade unions joined the strike.

A demonstration was held in front of the LIC Building in Jaipur.

Rajasthan roadways employees affiliated with Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) also participated in the "Bharat bandh".

However in Jaipur, most of the markets opened as usual and there was not much impact on public transport services.

Bengal: The workers disrupted train services in Kolkata and other towns while shops and banks were shut at various places.

Buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws stayed off the road in the State, reported news agency Reuters.

The protesters blocked the railway track at Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas and 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.

Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru : The National capital remained largely unaffected by the Bharat Bandh.

Bengaluru too remained unaffected by the Nationwide strike.

In Mumbai, lakhs of commuters faced hardships as an indefinite strike called by BEST, the city's civic transport undertaking, continued.

There were only five buses plying on city roads.

Over 32,000 BEST employees went on an indefinite strike Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries, reported news agency ANI.

Punjab : With the State-run roadways unions joining the All-India strike, most of the buses were off the roads in Punjab.

In the Punjabi University in Patiala, some students and teachers joined the protest and did not allow the rest to enter the university campus.

Reports of partial shutdown of shops and other establishments were received from Punjab's Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and other places, reported news agency IANS.

Odisha : In Odisha, train services were hit on the second day of the strike as trade union activists staged "rail rook" at several places including Bhubaneswar, Balasore and Berhampur.

Several trains were delayed due to blockade of railway tracks by strike supporters, leaving a large number of passengers stranded at many places.

Telangana : Banking services across Telangana were severely hit by the Nationwide strike.

However, most of the shops and business establishments were open and transport services remained unaffected, news agency PTI reported.

Kerala : In Kerala, a treasury branch of the State Bank of India in Thiruvananthapuram was attacked and trains were blocked in various parts of state.

Buses, taxis and auto rickshaws stayed off the road.

Several Opposition leaders backed the Bharat Bandh by the trade unions.

In a tweet, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the policies of the Modi Government have created "catastrophic unemployment" and weakened State-run companies.

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