Farmers Movement Archive

Trade unions’ strike evokes partial response in state

Patna/ Begusarai/ Nalanda: The nation-wide strike called by trade unions supported by bank associations, farmers and several political outfits on Thursday to protest ‘anti-labour’ policies and new farm laws of the central government, had a partial impact in the state capital as only financial institutions were partially hit. Barring banking and insurance sector, which have presence of trade unions, normal life was unaffected in the city with all essential services, especially public transport and business establishments open at most of the places. Public transport was affected for less than two hours at Kargil Chowk as bandh supporters took out a protest march shouting slogans against the government policies. Former JNU students’ union president and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar also joined the protest at Dak Bungalow crossing in support of farmers and workers. He raised slogans like- ‘Aaj hartal kal hartal, na mane to dera dal’ (strike today strike tomorrow, if they don’t agree then camp) and ‘Jai jawaan, jai kisan, jai samvidhan’. Addressing the gathering, Kanhaiya said farmers and workers across the country are protesting for their rights and opposing the anti- labour policies and farm laws with the support of common people. “When after 200 years of slavery, people of the country can unite and drive away such forces then this is an elected government. The central government has to roll back its anti-labour and anti-farmer policies,” he said. Some workers of the RJD, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)- Bihar, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), CITU, All India Kisan Sabha- Bihar among other trade union also joined the protest at the Dak Bungalow crossing. AICCTU national secretary Ranvijay Kumar said Asha workers, aganwadi workers , mid-day meal workers across Bihar has joined the protest against the Centre’s policies. “We are also opposing the orders of Nitish- led NDA for forced retirement of employees above 50 years of age in government sector,” he said. President of Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) and Bihar Provincial Gramin Bank Employees’ Association (BPGBEA) B Prasad said normal banking operations, including cash transactions, cheque clearances, other dealings were affected. “The strike was a success across the state. Banking services have been affected and all ATMs also remain closed,” he said. Raj Kumar Jha, general secretary of Bihar State Auto-Chalak Sangh said, “The auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers held a protest march. “In 20 districts, including Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Bhagalpur, Jehanabad and Begusarai, the public transport remain off the road,” he said. Meanwhile, traffic remained paralysed for over four hours in the morning on NH-31 in the wake of the nationwide strike call given by various trade organizations in Begusarai. Activists of AITUC, AICCTU, CITU besides other trade organizations took out a march through the streets in the morning and later gathered near the railway station on NH-31 to stage dharna. Trade union supporters also blocked traffic near Barauni Thermal Power Station. Various trade unions took out processions in Biharsharif, Asthawan, Islampur, Rajgir and Hilsa. There was no report of forced closure of business establishments and disruption of the movement of vehicular traffic from any part of the district till the evening. A procession was taken out from Rajendra Ashram, office of Congress Party in Gaya on Thursday. INTUC state secretary Ashok Singh, AICC member and Magadh division spokesman of Congress Vijay Kumar Mithu led the procession, which after reaching Ambedkar park culminated into a public meeting. Terming the failure to connect to the masses as ‘disciplined agitation’ a number of Left leaders including Maksudan Sharma, Janardhan Prasad, Ramdev Chaudhry and others claimed the bandh a success.

The Times of India

2020-11-27

Patna