Shutdown hits life in West Bengal (Roundup)

KOLKATA - Normal life was hit in West Bengal as road and rail services were disrupted and markets and offices were shut during a nationwide shutdown called by non-Congress parties against the hike in fuel prices.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Left parties had separately called the shutdown.

Activists of the state’s ruling Left Front held rallies and put roadblocks early Monday morning in several areas here, preventing people from going to work.

“The shutdown in the state has been successful. People have supported this shutdown to protest against the government decision against the fuel price hike,” Biman Bose, chairman of the ruling Left Front, said.

“Currently the food prices are sky high and this increase in the price of fuels will further increase prices. The policies of the central government are taking heavy toll on common man,” Bose tld reporters.

Strike supporters also did not spare the city’s IT hub. Hundreds of Left activists organised rallies and prevented IT professionals from going to offices.

But most of the IT companies made arrangements to bring their employees into offices before 6 a.m. by cars.

The showcase IT sector located in the satellite township of Salt Lake witnessed an attendance of around 50-55 percent.

No public and private buses plied in Kolkata and streets were deserted.

“There was no breach of peace. The shutdown was peaceful. No arrests were made,” Inspector General (Law and Order) Surajit Kar Purkayastha told IANS.

The Socialist Unity Center for India (SUCI), a prominent alliance partner of the Trinamool Congress, had also separately called a 12-hour nationwide shutdown Monday to protest against the fuel price hike.

Supporters of the BJP and the SUCI hit the streets in large numbers to enforce the shutdown. Many commuters alleged they had to return home because of the strong-arm tactics used by the protesters.

“I was going to my father’s place in my own car. But I was threatened that the car would be damaged if I didn’t go back,” complained Gargi Adhikaray, a housewife.

BJP supporters allegedly thrashed taxi drivers and forced commuters to alight from vehicles.

Attendance was negligible in government offices. Most ATMs in the city and districts were closed. Many schools, colleges and universities deferred their examinations.

Travellers at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport and passengers at the Sealdah and Howrah railway stations were the worst-hit.

A 14-member Indian archery team, who arrived at the airport after participating in the 3rd Asian Grand Prix Archery tournament Monday morning faced a difficult time due to the shutdown.

Later Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel came to their rescue and ferried them to Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex in Salt Lake in their vans.

“Train services were badly hit. Bandh supporters squatted on rail tracks, obstructing train movements. Several trains were stranded and some were cancelled,” an Eastern Railway spokesperson said.

Railway Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said: “This shutdown was nothing more than holiday. We are against the fuel price hike. We are beside the common people. But this state government also charge taxes on the oil.”

Left supporters with flags and banners crowded in front of different Metro stations and forced the employees to shut the station gates. Later, the services resumed but there were very few commuters.

“We have taken steps to maintain the Metro services. But there are very few passengers. On a normal day there are more than seven lakh commuters,” Metro spokesperson R. Mahapatra said.

Ferry services on various rivers across the state were also disrupted. While some operators supported the shutdown, others feared damage by protesters.

“People of West Bengal are supporting the shutdown call wholeheartedly,” Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretariat member Shyamal Chakraborty said.

Some people doubted whether this form of protest could bring relief to the common man.

“We need to protest against the price hike of fuels. But I don’t think that two shutdowns would serve any purpose,” said Saibal Roy, an engineer, referring to an earlier strike in the state on the same issue.

Despite the 12-hour shutdown, Durgapur subdivision in Burdwan district was out of the purview of bandh due by-election being held there.

The seat fell vacant after the death of state power minister and CPI-M leader Mrinal Banerjee in February.

On June 26, the CPI-M affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) had called for transport strike in the state to protest the fuel price hike.