April 19, 2024 07:43 (IST)
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Strike affects normal life in Bengal
Kolkata, Apr 30 (IBNS) Life was affected in Kolkata and the West Bengal districts as a day-long strike called by the opposition passed off at six pm on Thursday amid reports of sporadic clashes.
The strike was called separately by the Left parties ,Congress and the Bharaitya Janata Party in protest against the alleged violence by the ruling Trinamool Congress in the just concluded civil elections.
Students, who were going to examinations, faced a huge trouble as very few private buses, autos and taxis were available, though a large number of state-run buses operated across the state without much of passengers.
There were very few private buses and taxis on roads and the streets looked deserted with few venturing out.
Strikers allegedly attacked government buses at several areas including Kolkata's College Street and Howrah's Golabari areas.
TMC supporters allegedly attacked some private buses as in Howrah's Liluah as the vehicles were not taken out of depot in response to the strike.
The ferry and metro rail service in Kolkata were normal, but very few passengers were found.
Shops and markets remained closed in many areas, but in some areas they were open.
Allegations were made against Trinamool supporters for using force to open shops.
Banks remained open, but their functioning was impeded by low attendance of employees
Poor attendance was recorded in all sectors in Kolkata. 20-30 per cent employees turned up for work in Kolkata's Salt Lake Sector-V area, the IT-hub of the state. Though the attendance at the new secretariat building Nabanna was very good, it was very low in the Writers' Buildings where 70 per cent of the staff was absent ignoring finance department's notice declaring a day's pay cut.
Responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's call to keep the city's motion normal, TMC supporters hit the street to foil the strike, but they failed to arrange transport for the office goers and students. Many students could not reach their exam halls on time.
The Student Federation of India (SFI) demanded to the universities' authorities to take the exam again with fresh question papers.
In many areas in West Bengal, supporters of the strike blocked the railroads and highways. Many local and express trains remained stranded at different stations and rail services were severely disrupted. However, the situation was brought under control very soon.
After arriving at Howrah, Sealdah, Shalimar and Santragachi railway stations and at Dumdum International Airport, passengers suffered a lot in the absence of transport.
On Wednesday, the chief justice of Kolkata High Court Manjula Chellur directed the police and administrations to keep the state normal and arrange proper security on the day of the strike. A huge police force were deployed across the state to maintain law and order.
News of clashes between TMC and supporters of the strike were reported from different areas across the state.
Police arrested many strikers, including Left Front and BJP leaders from several areas.
Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) leader Shyamal Chakraborty said the strike was a 'huge success.'
"In all industrial areas, labours did not work to support our strike," he said.
Left Front chairman Biman Basu said, "Police and TMC supporters attacked brutally to foil the strike, but general people ignored all attacks and supported our strike."
BJP state president Rahul Sinha said that he never witnessed such successful strike in WB. "Refusing Mamata Banerjee's brag, police torture and TMC supporters' attack, people spontaneously supported our strike, I want to say them thaks. This is proved that people are with us to save the democracy," he said
TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee claimed that general people of West Bengal rejected the strike. "As Bengal people don't want strike, they refused BJP and Left's strike," he said.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha; Images by Sounak Choudhury)
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