India sees mixed response to Bharat Bandh; Left, Mamata spar over WB violence

21:09 January 08

Thousands protest in Delhi in support of 'Bharat Bandh'

Thousands of members from trade and farmer unions protested in the national capital against the Centre and extended their support to the all-India 'Bharat Bandh' by trade unions.

Gathered at the Shaheed Park, the members then walked towards the ITO intersection and blocked a section of Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, CPI(M) leader and All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mollah attacked the Narendra Modi-led government, calling it the most "anti-farmer, anti-labourer, anti-education, and anti-democracy" government.

Along with economic distress and farmer issues, the protest also opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed NPR.

20:42 January 08

Kanhaiya extends support to protesting trade unions

Former JNUSU President and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar reached ITO in the national capital to extend support to the various trade unions and students who were protesting in response to the Bharat Bandh call.

"We were promised a five trillion economy, but we are currently witnessing a slowdown. Labourers, farmers and the youth are the most adversely affected, the unemployment rate is at a 45-year-high," he said.

Kumar also said that the poor labourers and farmers are now aware that the proposed NPR will pose a threat to them due to lack of proper documents.

17:36 January 08

Mamata instigated violence during trade unions' strike: CPI(M)

CPI(M) politburo member Mohammed Salim alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instigated TMC cadres and police personnel to indulge in violence in the state during the one-day strike called by 10 central trade unions.

Salim also denied claims that Left cadres and Congress workers were involved in arson in Malda district. "None of the protesters or strike supporters were involved in violence. It is Mamata Banerjee who instigated violence. The TMC cadres and police personnel in order to please the chief minister, indulged in arson. Despite threats, the strike has been successful in Bengal," Salim told a press conference here.

Salim's view was echoed by Congess party leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who, too, blamed Banerjee for inciting violence.  

16:29 January 08

Massive protest rally in Vijayawada

Trade unions took out a massive protest rally in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada, as part of the nationwide strike.

16:06 January 08

Protesters brave heavy snowfall, rain in Shimla

Trade unions held protests in Shimla and other parts of Himachal Pradesh in response to the nationwide strike call despite heavy snowfall and rain.

In Shimla, trade unions led by CITU State President Vijendra Mehra held protest at Panchayat Bhawan. They raised slogans against the central government.

15:43 January 08

Protests at Delhi University's North Campus

Protests are currently on at Delhi University's North Campus against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and in support of the Bharat Bandh called by ten trade unions.

14:46 January 08

Mamata Banerjee on crude bombs near Hridaypur railway station

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee: CPI(M) has no ideology. Planting bombs on railway tracks is 'gundagardi'. In the name of the movement, commuters are being beaten up and stones are being pelted. This is 'dadagiri', not a movement. I condemn this.

14:46 January 08

15 lakh power sector employees, engineers on strike: AIPEF

About 15 lakh power sector employees and engineers across the country went on strike on Wednesday in support of 'Bharat Bandh' call given by 10 central trade unions.

Power sector employees are 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.

They are also demanding the implementation of old pension scheme for all employees. The strike call was given by National Co-ordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), a united platform of unions and federations of electricity employees and engineers of the country.

Hundreds of employees and engineers held protest meeting at Shakti Bhawan in the state capital and shouted slogans.
 

14:23 January 08

Demonstrations turn violent in WB's Malda district

The 'Bharat Bandh' demonstration in Sujapur of Malda district turned violent as protestors reportedly demolished a police car and resorted to stone-pelting. In order to control the mob, the police had to lob tear gas shells so as to disperse them from the area. 

13:46 January 08

Demonstrations in Punjab

Reports of a partial shutdown of shops and other establishments were received from Punjab's Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and other places. With the state-run roadways unions joining the 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.

12:44 January 08

TMC and SFI workers clashed in East Burdwan of West Bengal during the ongoing general strike in the state. 

The ten central trade unions including Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), among others have given the call for strike with a 12-point charter of demand. Trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is not taking part in the strike.

12:31 January 08

The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra on Wednesday extended its support to the 'Bharat Bandh' call by trade unions against the policies of the Central government.

"State government supports today's Bharat Bandh call of different trade unions, government at the Centre is an anti-labour government," said Congress leader and Cabinet Minister 

12:27 January 08

12:13 January 08

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for government's 'anti-people', 'anti-labour' policies that he said have created "catastrophic unemployment". Rahul Gandhi said he salutes the 25 crore workers for calling Bharat Bandh.
 

11:51 January 08

Bharat Petroleum Refinery employees extend support

Bharat Petroleum Refinery employees union on Wednesday extended support to the all India strike called by Central Trade Unions. The employees of the oil and gas company are protesting against the government's decision of strategic disinvestment of Bharat Petroleum.

They were seen demonstrating in front of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Mahul in the morning.

11:40 January 08

Left leaders held during Bharat bandh protests in Andhra

Police in Andhra Pradesh arrested leaders of the Left parties and trade unions as they tried to stop state-owned buses and staged road blockade on Wednesday as part of the nation-wide shutdown.

Protesters were arrested in Vijayawada, Guntur, Ongole, Visakhapatnam, Kadapa and other towns when they tried to stop buses of Road Transport Corporation (RTC) from coming out of the depots.

Holding their respective party flags, leaders of Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), other Left parties and trade unions, who have called for the strike, squatted on the roads, raising slogans against the 'anti-people' and 'anti-worker' policies of Narendra Modi government.

The protesters, including activists of Muslim and other minority groups, also demanded revocation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act. They raised slogans against National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

At Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), striking employees along with leaders of trade unions and leaders of the Left parties staged a protest demonstration. Trade unions claimed that 30,000 employees of the steel plant are taking part in 'Bharat bandh'.

The protesters raised slogans of 'POSCO go back'. They demanded that the government drop plans to privatise VSP in the guise of a joint venture with the South Korean steel-maker POSCO. The leaders and activists of the Left parties tried to disrupt RTC services in Vijayawada, Guntur and Ongole.

The Left parties and Congress staged a road blockade on Vijayawada-Hyderabad national highway. CPI state secretary K. Ramakrishna was among those arrested by the police. Ramakrishna condemned the arrests of peaceful protesters.

He alleged that the Narendra Modi government is adopting anti-people policies. "We are demanding the government to protect public sector undertakings and safeguard the interests of employees and workers," he said.

The CPI leader said the government should rollback CAA and drop its plans to conduct NPR and NRC.

11:39 January 08

Banking services impacted due to nationwide trade union strike

Banking services were impacted on Wednesday as employees went on a nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

Branch activities including cash withdrawal deposit in public sector banks in many places across the country have been affected due to the strike.

Most of the lenders had informed their customers in advance about the strike call given by All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM), and its impact on banking services.

All India Reserve Bank Employees Association (AIRBEA) and All India Reserve Bank Workers Federation (AIRBWF) and some insurance unions have also extended support to the strike.
          
 

11:17 January 08

Barring the trade union affiliated to the BJP -- the BMS, all other registered trade unions in the state are taking part in the protests. Except for a few private vehicles, most of the public transport remained off the road, leaving many stranded at railways stations. Even tourists and pilgrims bore the brunt of it.
 

10:45 January 08

Normal life has been severely affected across Odisha with the beginning of 24-hour all India strike called by 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) protesting hike in the price of essential commodities, unemployment, “anti-people” policies of the Centre and several other issues.

Educational institutions remained closed in several districts while public transport like bus and train services have been adversely affected due to the bandh. Similarly, business establishments and banks remained shut in many parts of the State. However, emergency services continue to remain unaffected.

Bhubaneswar-Bolangir Intercity, Puri-Rourkela Passenger train remained stranded at Bhubaneswar railway station while Howrah-Yesvantpur Express and Ichhapur-Cuttack MEMU halted at Berhampur.

Similarly, Puri-Vishakhapatnam Passenger was also stuck at Gunupur station. Bhadrak-Brahmapur passenger, Kendujhargarh-Bhubaneswar passenger were also stranded en route at Bhadrak from 6.30 AM and Kendujhargarh from 6.30 AM.
 

10:37 January 08

Mixed response in Punjab

The nationwide shutdown call of the central trade unions against the Centre's policies evoked a mixed response in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Wednesday amidst rains.
There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the states.

The activists of several farmer associations were seen asking traders at several places in Punjab and Haryana to keep their shops and business establishments closed to mark the pan India protest.

Sufficient security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incidents, said police.  

10:36 January 08

UP on high alert

Uttar Pradesh has been put on high alert following the pan India shut down call given by the central trade unions. The strike is in protest against the 'anti-labour' policies of the government.

In Uttar Pradesh, several trade unions have extended support to the bandh call and will be participating in the strike. Bank unions, postal staff, Life Insurance and BSNL employees have said they will join the strike. Power employees will also be boycotting work in support of their demands.

Farmers' unions have said that they will stall the transportation of vegetables on Wednesday. Students unions are also joining in the bandh call.

Meanwhile, 16.5 lakh candidates will be taking the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) scheduled to be held on Wednesday at 3,049 centres across the state. Senior police officials said that all district police chiefs have been asked to remain on high alert.

The police have been asked to remain vigilant in areas that witnessed violence during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests last month.
 

10:31 January 08

Road and rail blockades were reported from several parts of West Bengal on Wednesday as trade union activists along with Left and Congress supporters picketed in support of the 24-hour general strike against the Centre's "anti-people" policies.

The protesters took out rallies in parts of the state and blocked roads and railway tracks in North 24 Parganas district. But police removed them to ensure movement of vehicles without hitch.

In Kolkata, government buses were plying normally but the number of private buses was less in the early hours. Metro services were normal in the city and auto-rickshaws and taxis were also seen on the roads.

Heavy police deployment was seen in several areas of the city, including in Tollygunge, Behala, Esplanade and Jadavpur. In some areas of north Bengal, the Trinamool Congress took out rallies opposing the strike and urged people to maintain normalcy.
 

10:31 January 08

National Union of Postal Employees in Murshidabad division take part in Bharat bandh. 

10:20 January 08

Around 35 people were arrested for blocking roads, raising slogans and burning effigies in Chandni Chawk area of Kolkata in West Bengal.

About 60 organisations of students and elected office-bearers of some universities have also decided to join the strike with an agenda to raise voice against increased fee structure and commercialization of education
 

09:31 January 08

Bharat Bandh: Demonstrations turn violent in WB's Malda

Howrah (West Bengal):Following the 'Bharat Bandh' called by trade unions, protesters blocked railway tracks in Howrah and Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday. They raised anti-government slogans and criticised the Center for its policies. They were holding placards, posters and banners against the government.

Commuters faced difficulties as bus services were also affected. CPI (M) protesters also stopped the operation of state transport buses. In Odisha, the public agitation started around 6 am at Talcher, Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, Bhadrak and Kendujhargarh.

Read: BJP claims Pakistan's ISI, terror organisations, Maoists behind student protests

Due to the protests, the following trains are detained en route at different stations --Bhadrak-Brahmapur passenger at Bhadrak, Kendujhargarh-Bhubaneswar passenger at Kendujhargarh, Bhubaneswar-Balangir InterCity at Bhubaneswar, Howrah-Yesvantpur Express at Brahmapur, Ichhapur-Cuttack MEMU at Brahmapur and Puri-Rourkela passenger at Bhubaneswar.

The ten central trade unions including Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), among others have given the call for strike with a 12-point charter of demand. Trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is not taking part in the strike.