We oppose bandh by principle but support protests: Mamata Banerjee

Mamata made the comment at Nabanna, the state secretariat.

The TMC supremo said she was approached by the Congress to support the bandh but she declined.

Clarifying her stand which she maintained in last few years, Mamata said: "We are trying to rebuild West Bengal in a new way. By principle, we oppose bandh. No matter who calls it.

"The Congress had called me after calling the bandh. I told them we won't support bandh but will join the protest over the issue," she added.

Mamata, who used to call bandh frequently as an opposition leader in West Bengal, consciously stayed away from the political programme in last few years.

The Chief Minister said she believes bandh should be the last option to protest. "I think bandh is not the solution. I believe it should be called at the end."

On the other hand, Mamata's decision to stay away from bandh has been criticised by Left and Congress leaders, who accused the TMC chief of benefiting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which runs the central government, in a way.

However, the TMC had joined Congress president Rahul Gandhi's protest march in New Delhi on Monday. TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy was seen with Rahul and host of opposition leaders in the national capital.

The TMC also held a protest rally, which stretched from Moulali to Esplanade, in Kolkata.

Though Assam, Bihar, Karnataka had responded in favour of the bandh, normal life was not hit in West Bengal.

People in large numbers came out on the streets and attendance in government offices, including state secretariat Nabanna, stood at almost 98% on a day which marked the beginning of a new week.

Transport facilities were normal in the eastern state but presence of people on streets was lesser than usual days.

The fuel price hike is one of the recent issues which the opposition parties are using to corner the BJP, in the run up to 2019 General Elections.

The petrol price has already crossed Rs. 80/litre in several metropolitan cities.

Kolkata:

Congress and Left activists blocked roads at Hazra, Manicktala, Jadavpur 8B Bus Stand, Dumdum Cant. and Shyambazar Five Point crossing.

Congress supporters blocked railway tracks at Jadavpur for few minutes.

Congress and CPI-M held rallies in favour of the strike at few locations in Kolkata and Salt Lake.

WBTC ran 800 extra buses to keep city's transportation normal while 8000 police personnel were deployed in the state capital to avoid any untoward situation.

Government offices, including state secretariat Nabanna, recorded almost 98% attendance of state government employees.

Metro, ferry, bus, suburban train and flight services were almost normal in the city.

Howrah:

Congress supporters tried to stop buses at Panchanantala area. Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control soon.

Left supporters blocked Howra-Amta road at Sanpur area near Dasnagar and when police tried to lift the blockade, they engaged in a scuffle with each other. Windshield of a bus was allegedly damaged by the strikers.

Hooghly:

Left activists blocked railway tracks at Serampore and Dankuni stations.

Meanwhile, strike supporters blocked railway tracks and roads at several areas in South and North 24 Parganas, East Medinipur, West Burdwan, Purulia, Bankura, Malda, North and South Dinajpur, and Alipurduar districts. 

In Murshidabad, maximum shops were closed and very few vehicles were noticed on the roads.

Strike supporters burned effigies of PM Narendra Modi at several locations.