Two days long nationwide bandh convened by 11 central trade unions and conglomerations had a mixed response in northern half of West Bengal that hosts large portion of tea belt of Sub Himalayan region. While the bandh was almost total in the plains areas, it was near non existing in hills in Darjeeling or the state of Sikkim.
"Barring few isolated stray incidents, no major untoward occurrence took place. The bandh remained peaceful," said Police officials in north Bengal and Sikkim. According to them, around 50 bandh supporters were arrested from different place in connection with several incidents.
In both of the days, all the city areas like Siliguri, Jalpaiguri or Maldah remained under near complete bandh. The trade centers, market places there remained closed. Almost all schools, banks also remained under the clutch of bandh. Though attendances in central as well as state government offices were near zero, it was just reverse in offices of Municipalities, Corporations or Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority at present ruled by non left party Trinamool Congress.
Vehicular movement in all major roads, NH31, NH34, though in low in number, was not completely invisible. "Almost all air services remained near normal," said an Airport Authority of India spokesman from Bagdogra Airport.
"With few adjustments, we were able to run almost all important trains," said a NF railway spokesman.
Out of around 300 organized tea gardens in Darjeeling hills and foothills, the ones in foothills had mixed response with few under bandh and rest open. But the gardens in hills hardly had any effect of bandh mainly due to near negligible presence of CITU or any other central trade unions remaining there any more since upraise of local political outfit Gorkha Janamukti Morcha with strong ethnic ambiance.
Sikkim, connected to rest party of the country through Siliguri, however remained at normal pace of life. Though the workers wing of the ruling party in the state, Sikkim Democratic Labour Front(ASDLF), rendered its 'support in principle' to the demands of working class, it never asked anyone to observe the bandh. Under Supreme court verdict, it is the responsibility of West Bengal state Government to ensure obstruction free road for land locked Sikkim during any bandh.
As usual, while leader of ruling party of West Bengal TMC and state Minister Mr. G Dev labeled the bandh as 'something with near negligible response due to rejection by common mass,' ex state minister and CPIM leader Mr. Ashok Bhattacharya congratulated and thanked people for 'Making the bandh a grand success with overwhelming support.'
"Barring few isolated stray incidents, no major untoward occurrence took place. The bandh remained peaceful," said Police officials in north Bengal and Sikkim. According to them, around 50 bandh supporters were arrested from different place in connection with several incidents.
In both of the days, all the city areas like Siliguri, Jalpaiguri or Maldah remained under near complete bandh. The trade centers, market places there remained closed. Almost all schools, banks also remained under the clutch of bandh. Though attendances in central as well as state government offices were near zero, it was just reverse in offices of Municipalities, Corporations or Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority at present ruled by non left party Trinamool Congress.
Vehicular movement in all major roads, NH31, NH34, though in low in number, was not completely invisible. "Almost all air services remained near normal," said an Airport Authority of India spokesman from Bagdogra Airport.
"With few adjustments, we were able to run almost all important trains," said a NF railway spokesman.
Out of around 300 organized tea gardens in Darjeeling hills and foothills, the ones in foothills had mixed response with few under bandh and rest open. But the gardens in hills hardly had any effect of bandh mainly due to near negligible presence of CITU or any other central trade unions remaining there any more since upraise of local political outfit Gorkha Janamukti Morcha with strong ethnic ambiance.
Sikkim, connected to rest party of the country through Siliguri, however remained at normal pace of life. Though the workers wing of the ruling party in the state, Sikkim Democratic Labour Front(ASDLF), rendered its 'support in principle' to the demands of working class, it never asked anyone to observe the bandh. Under Supreme court verdict, it is the responsibility of West Bengal state Government to ensure obstruction free road for land locked Sikkim during any bandh.
As usual, while leader of ruling party of West Bengal TMC and state Minister Mr. G Dev labeled the bandh as 'something with near negligible response due to rejection by common mass,' ex state minister and CPIM leader Mr. Ashok Bhattacharya congratulated and thanked people for 'Making the bandh a grand success with overwhelming support.'
Source: economictimes
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?