Farmers Movement Archive

Maharashtra bandh today: Shops to stay shut, buses may not ply

MUMBAI: The bandh called in the state by the ruling MVA, an alliance of the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP, on Monday to protest against the death of farmers in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence may keep BEST buses off city roads. Restaurants and shops decided they would “voluntarily” keep shut till 4pm, said office-bearers from the respective trade associations. Transporters said they would support the bandh, which might temporarily hit supply of essentials such as fruits and vegetables. The impact of the bandh is likely to be highest in the Shiv-Sena-dominated areas of central Mumbai as well as in neighbouring Thane, where the MVA constituents have a strong presence. The BEST Kamgar Union affiliated to the Shiv Sena called for a bus bandh and if it is heeded, it could cripple movement in the city at a time when local trains are not accessible to all because of Covid-19 restrictions. About 27 lakh commuters are expected to be affected. Shiv Sena unions have also appealed to auto and taxi drivers to stay off roads, although the leading unions for these two modes of transport said they would not support the bandh. Trains, the metro and aggregator cabs will also ply unless there is protest at stations or on streets, said sources. There will be heavy deployment of police personnel, even at railway stations. Joint anti-sabotage checks of the RPF and GRP, with deployment of the RPF dog squad, have been arranged at sensitive stations and on major trains across the state, said the Western Railway. It said 600 RPF personnel would man stations across the state. “All major stations of the division are deployed with the Quick Response Team,” a spokesperson said. Shiv Sena union leader Suhas Samant claimed that the bus bandh would be “total” in the city and drivers had been asked to join the protest. The rival BEST Workers’ Union led by Shashank Rao said the ruling party should ensure that essential services like buses remain functioning instead of inconveniencing the common man by going off the roads. The BEST administration has appealed to drivers to report to duty and operate buses from 27 bus depots. Viren Shah of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association said: “FRTWA, after request of Shiv Sena and other party leaders, have decided to keep shops closed till 4pm in support of bandh call by Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in protest of killing of farmers.” An official from the hoteliers’ association Ahar also said most restaurants would “voluntarily” remain closed till 4pm. A municipal official said BMC offices would function as usual. “Local trains and bus services are not likely to be hit. We expect that staff would be able to reach the office as it is a working day,” the official said. The BMC headquarters in Fort has a staff strength of 7,000. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut described the incident in Lakhimpur Kheri as the death of democracy. “We must all come together and show support and solidarity to the farmers. All of Maharashtra is with the farmers and we will make this bandh successful,” Raut said. Shiv Sena MP from South Mumbai Arvind Sawant said that the Centre was harassing the farmers. “It was clearly seen that the son of the union minister of state for home was driving the car. There can’t be a more unfortunate incident than this. Incidents like these are happening frequently. We had opposed the farm laws and had even told the government to change them. The government is behaving in a ruthless manner. We will ensure that the bandh is widespread and successful,” he said. The Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the Shiv Sens labour wing, has supported Monday’s bandh, as have transporter groups. A transporter said: “Transport fraternity strongly condemns the brutal killings of innocent farmers and we support the bandh. Essentials will be hit.” Mumbai Taximen’s Union leader A L Quadros said he appealed to all cabbies to operate unless there was any kind of threat to them. Some corporators on Sunday started circulating messages among local residents saying a call for Maharashtra Bandh had been given for Monday. Abhishek Ghosalkar, whose wife Tejasvi is a Shiv Sena corporator from IC Colony in Borivli, put out a message that said: “Dear Citizens of I. C. Colony ward # 1, This is to inform all the Citizens of ward # 1,that tomorrow, on the 11th of October 2021, a call for “Maharashtra Bandh” has been given. This is for your information and guidance.” Thane city NCP president Anand Paranjape on Sunday evening issued an appeal to all residents on behalf of the MVA partners to extend their support to the protest. He said the protest was not politically driven but was in support of farmers. (With inputs from Bella Jaisinghani, Richa Pinto, Manthan K Mehta & Manoj Badgeri)

The Times of India

2021-10-11

Navi-mumbai