Bharat Bandh: Trade union strike throws life out of gear in Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, West 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," said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
The two-day nationwide strike called by trade unions against the alleged repressive labour policies by the Narendra Modi government evoked mixed response across the nation on Tuesday. Central Trade Unions have called the strike to protest against the government's alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms.
"The strike is quite visible in Assam, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Manipur Bihar, Rajasthan, Goa, Punjab, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Haryana -- particularly in the targeted industrial areas and different mines," Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), told PTI.
As many as 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) have joined hands to go on a two-day nationwide strike from Tuesday. 20 crore workers are expected to join the strike.
This is the largest number of workers from formal and informal sectors joining a strike against anti-people and anti-worker policies of the BJP-led central government, she stated.
She informed that sectors like telecom, health, education, coal, steel, electricity, banking, insurance and transport are supporting the strike.
The 10 CTUs which have gone on strike include INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC. RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) are not participating.
Bharat Bandh: Highlights
04:20 pm: West Bengal: Members of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) protest inside Maidan metro station in Kolkata in support of the two-day nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others.
04:11 pm: Karnataka: The 48-hour nationwide strike called by Trade Unions against Union government demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector affected normal life in Karnataka's Hubli. ANI visuals.
02:31 pm: Nationwide strike called by central trade unions evoke partial response in Tripura. Schools and government offices largely functioning normally, even as shops in parts of the state remained closed
01:32 pm: Sabarimala pilgrims, tourists, social and religious functions exempted from the two-day strike
01:14 pm: Trains stopped at in Thiruvananthapuram, Tripunithura, Shoranur railway stations in Kerala
12:38 pm: Holiday was declared in schools and colleges in many districts of Karnataka, examinations postponed
11:56 am: Banking operations on Tuesday were affected in some parts of the country amid the two-day strike call given by 10 central trade unions. The State Bank of India is likely to remain operational
11:20 am: Telangana: Over 20 lakh workers likely to participate in two-day nationwide strike
10:45 am: Mumbai: Bus services at the CSMT affected due to indefinite strike by BEST over demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences etc
10:11 am: Mumbai: 40 extra buses being run by state transport department in the view of an indefinite strike by BEST over demands of its merger with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences etc.
09:54 am: West Bengal: Clash between TMC and CPM workers erupt in Asansol during 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes and against privatisation of public and government sector
09:51 am: Kerala: 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes and against privatisation of public and government sector
09:50 am: Odisha: Traffic movement affected on National Highway 16 due to protest by Central Trade Unions in Bhubaneswar. Their demands include minimum wages and social security among others
09:41 am: Delhi: All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members hold protest in Patparganj industrial area against privatisation of public and government sector and demanding minimum wages, social security among others
09:19 am: West Bengal: Central Trade Union protests underway at Rupsa, Jaleswar and Datan in Bhadrak- Kharagpur railway section and Raghunathbari in Haldia railway section
08:55 am: 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector; visuals from Hubli, Karnataka
08:46 am: West Bengal: Police in Kolkata detain CPM workers protesting in support of 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions. Their demands include minimum wages and social security schemes among others
08:43 am: Members of Central Trade Unions hold protests, obstruct commuters in Odisha's Bhubaneswar in demand for minimum wages and social security schemes among others
08:38 am: Eight bus drivers, one conductor reported for duties early on Tuesday at few depots in Mumbai amid BEST strike; no bus however, has left from the 27 depots
08:24 am: Members of Central Trade Unions block railway line in West Bengal's Howrah, demand minimum wages and social security schemes among others
08:13 am: BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) on an indefinite strike in Mumbai from Monday midnight, over demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences and recruitment among others
07:59 am: Central Trade Unions on a two-day nationwide strike, demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others
07:27 am: Extra police personnel would be deployed in and around Howrah city
07:06 am: Private bus owners, taxi associations and app-based cabs will take out vehicles on the roads like normal days
07:02 am: Taking all measures to foil any untoward incident during the strike, 500 additional buses would ply on city roads
06:27 am: West Bengal government announces that its employees would be barred from availing casual leave or any half-day leave on Tuesday and Wednesday