Bharat Bandh: Trade Union Strike Evokes Mixed Response on Day 2
Schools have independently begun declaring holidays due to the nation-wide strike by trade unions in the country.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
The two-day strike by central trade unions evoked mixed response across the country on Wednesday, 9 January, as it entered its second day, with banking and transport services being affected partially and few incidents of violence seen in West Bengal.
As many as 10 central trade unions, except Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, protested against the government's alleged anti-labour policies and unilateral labour reforms. They had given a call for a two-day Bharat Bandh on 8 and 9 January.
General Secretary Hind Mazdoor Sabha Harbhajan Singh Sidhu told PTI that there was 100 percent strike in Assam, Odisha, Manipur, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Goa.
- At least 10 central trade unions had called a strike to demand minimum wage and social security schemes, among other things
- The strike had the most impact in the comparatively Left-dominated states of Kerala and West Bengal
- Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the West Bengal
Are There Any Real Issues Behind The Bandh? : Arun Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley questioned the motive behind the 2-day bandh and asked if this is a part of the Left parties to not be wiped out from the political map of India.
No Impact of Shutdown in Karnataka on 2nd Day
Government offices and bus services functioned normally across Karnataka on Wednesday, as the city largely remained unaffected by the 'Bharat Bandh.'
A few hundred industrial workers, joined by Anganwadi workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), who took out protest march from Bengaluru's Town Hall to Raj Bhavan amidst tight police security.
Bus services in Bengaluru, however, were fewer, with only 428 bus services plying across the city against the 4,100 scheduled, leading to a high demand for autos and ride-hailing services like Ola and Uber.
Most of the schools in the state that had declared a two-day holiday ahead of the strike remained closed, while few opened on Wednesday.
RJD, SP & Left Parties Participate in the Two-Day Strike in Bihar
Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Left parties participated in the two-day nationwide strike in Bihar. The protest was called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and are protesting against the government's alleged anti-labour policies and unilateral labour reforms.
In Photos: Trade Union Activists Protest in Delhi
Trade union activists shout slogans as they participate in a demonstration on the second day of a two-day nationwide strike called by various trade unions in New Delhi.
Train Services in Kerala Affected Due to Bharat Bandh
Thiruvananthapuram-Hyderabad Sabari Express and Venad Express were blocked at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram railway station on Wednesday on the second day of nationwide trade strike.
The Kottayam-Nilambur passenger train in Kalamassery was also held up for a while.
