The Congress-called Bharat Bandh was supported by CPI(M) in West Bengal though they maintained that they had called a separate 12-hour bandh on the same issue. It, however, got lukewarm response in the state as the TMC-led state government had announced that it was against any bandh.
The Congress-called Bharat Bandh was supported by CPI(M) in West Bengal though they maintained that they had called a separate 12-hour bandh on the same issue. It, however, got lukewarm response in the state as the TMC-led state government had announced that it was against any bandh.
Shops were forcefully shut down in Burabazar, Manicktala and Park Circus areas. Congress workers put up a blockade at Shyambazar. Bandh supporters had also put up blockades at different railway stations in the districts, disrupting rail services. At Howrah district Congress supporters clashed with police at Dasnagar, Panchanantala and Daspur areas as police went to lift blockades. There were fewer taxis at Howrah and Sealdah stations and at the airport. Private buses were few in number on the road as well.
Left Front leaders took out a rally from Entally to Mullickbazar area in support of the 12-hour bandh which they called. Top Left leaders including Left Front chairman Biman Bose, CPI(M) state secretary Surjyakanta Mishra and party MP Md Salim partook in the rally.
Although the state government had put an extra 400 buses on road, there were few takers and most of the vehicles plied half empty. Kolkata Police had also deputed an additional 1500 police force at different areas of the city to prevent any untoward situation.
While Mishra blamed the Centre for spiraling fuel prices, he also alleged that both the Central and state government were equally corrupt. “When petrol price falls by 50 per cent in the international market, you kept on increasing price 12 times. As far as corruption is concerned, both the Centre and West Bengal government are equally guilty,” he said at the end of the rally.
State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee displayed the ‘sadhu and shaitan’ sides of hers. “While her party leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy has joined the Congress agitation in Delhi, her musclemen are out to foil the Bandh here in Bengal. So in Delhi while she is the sadhu, in Bengal she displays her shaitan side. By opposing bandh in Bengal she is only strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He would be happy at how her party cadres have tried to foil bandh here,” he said.
TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said that they opposed the BJP policies but were not for bandh either. “We have seen a lot of bandhs here and lost thousands of mandays. That is why on principle we are against bandh. We are against BJP’s anti-people policies and have will oppose those in other ways without calling any bandh. They will not be there after the next general elections.
BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, on the other hand alleged that TMC had provided veiled support for the bandh. “They might be saying that they are against bandh but in effect they are providing oxygen to the TMC. While schools are being shut forcefully, the state government is not objecting. That says a lot,” Ghosh said.
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