Mixed response to strike in Maharashtra

MUMBAI - Mumbai commuters suffered as autorickshaw drivers’ unions joined a nationwide strike Tuesday even as the rest of Maharashtra was relatively unaffected by the agitation called by eight trade unions against rising prices and privatisation.

The taxi unions only lent their moral support to the protest and their vehicles plied in Mumbai.

“We have not ordered our taxi drivers to go off road in support of the strike. However, we have extended moral support in favour of the strike against rising prices,” said A.C. Quadros, secretary of Bombay Taximen’s Union.

In other towns and cities of the state like Nashik, Aurangabad Nagpur and Pune, it was business as usual as most people seemed unaware of the strike call.

With Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi visiting schools in Nagpur and Pune, the cities seemed abuzz with activity.

In Mumbai, public transport buses were packed as commuters struggled to reach the nearest railway station and catch a suburban train, especially during the morning and evening rush hours.

While many autorickshaws remained off the road in the eastern and western suburbs, a few metered and private taxis were seen plying in the southern parts of Mumbai, but demanding much higher fares.

Commercial establishments, hotels and eateries did usual business.

As most airlines cancelled or rescheduled their flights, especially to West Bengal, Air India maintained connectivity of Kolkata with the rest of the country.

However, banks and financial institutions, both in the public and private sector, wholeheartedly supported the strike call by over 30 top confederations of trade unions, said Vishwas Utagi, secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA).

Around one million bank employees protested against a host of issues including foreign direct investments in public sector banks and entry of foreign banks.

As bank staffers kept away from work, banking services were hit from the branch levels to the head offices of various banks in Mumbai.

The trade unions, which are supporting the strike included Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) of the Communist Party of India and the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS).

Police said the situation in the state largely remained calm with no reports of any untoward incidents.