GUWAHATI, Jan 8 - The nationwide strike called by many trade unions of the country against the various policies of the government evoked total response in some districts and was partial in others. Our Staff Correspondents/Correspondents/ ANN Service report:
SILCHAR: The Bharat bandh call given by 10 central unions in protest against the anti-people policies of the Government received mixed response across Cachar district on Wednesday.
While commercial vehicles remained off the roads, private vehicles were seen plying as usual. Shops and other establishments also had their shutters down for most part of the day. While schools and colleges saw no turnout of students, trains and flights operated as per schedule.
Meanwhile, over 100 picketers from various parts of Silchar were arrested and detained at Chhotelal Seth Institute. They were however released later in the evening.
Interestingly, following the Government order of no work-no pay, employees of government establishments were seen at work during the day.
JORHAT: The nationwide bandh call given by several trade unions crippled normal life in Jorhat district with most of the business establishments, banks, post offices remaining closed.
The trade unions gave the bandh call to oppose the economic policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre and also against the proposed Industrial Relations Code.
Attendance in Government offices was thin and few private educational institutes functioned normally while attendance of students in Government schools was low.
Public transport vehicles remained off the roads while a few private vehicles were seen plying on the streets and roads.
HAILAKANDI: The nationwide strike called by various trade unions in support of their 14-point charter of demands passed off peacefully in Hailakandi district of south Assam. There was mixed response to the bandh in the district. 63 picketers were arrested from the different parts of the district and later released. Hailakandi SP, Pabindra Kumar Nath informed that no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district. He said that about 15 members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Tuesday night brought out a procession regarding the recent JNU incident without permission and they were stopped on the old hospital road of Hailakandi town. He said that some members of the Students� Federation of India (SFI) also gathered on the spot and the members of both the student bodies got involved in an argument but the situation was controlled by the police. No one was arrested.
All the examinations under Assam University were postponed today.
There was less attendance in the government offices. All the schools were almost closed. The inter-state passenger train from Bairabi (Mizoram) to Silchar ran on time. Vehicular traffic was less.
Bongaigaon: The strike called today by the different trade unions evoked mixed response in Bongaigaon and partial response in Chirang district. In some parts of Bongaigaon town area shops, markets and most of the schools remained open during the strike. Passenger carrying vehicles remained off the roads but train communication was normal. Picketers allegedly obstructed student carrying vehicles at Paglasthan near the SP�s office in the morning hours. Police detained some picketers at Bongaigaon Police Station.
In Chirang district, the strike had partial impact. Chapaguri market in Chirang district remained open like on normal days.
TINSUKIA: The Bharat bandh call given by the joint committee of trade unions and supported by numerous student unions stalled normal life in Tinsukia district with most shops and establishments remaining closed. Barring some private vehicles, no vehicle movement was noticed. Normal works of most of the tea gardens came to a halt today due to the support extended by the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) to the bandh call. No untoward incident was reported till the filing this report.
NALBARI: Normal life was paralysed in the entire Nalbari district due to the nationwide general strike called by trade unions to protest against the Government�s anti-people policies. During the strike, all kinds of commercial vehicles were off the roads including from the NH 31. Banking and postal services in the district were totally affected. Though the Government offices remained open, attendance was very thin. Schools and colleges remained closed. The Nalbari district committee of CITU today took out a rally in support of the strike.
Gossaigaon: The Bharat bandh call given by Trade Unions was partial at Gossaigaon. All government offices were open but the attendance was very thin. Very few employees turned up at the SDO(C) office at Habrubil. On the other hand Postal, banking services etc., were completely closed. Vehicular traffic was normal. Business establishments functioned normally. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere.
KOKRAJHAR: There was full support for today�s strike at Kokrajhar. Schools, colleges were totally closed as were banks and other financial institutions. There was no movement of long distance vehicles but trains are plying normally.
DERGAON: The bandh called by trade unions today paralysed normal life at Dergaon as well as in other parts of Golaghat district. No passenger vehicles plied on the NH 37 and the PHCG road. Business establishments remained closed and low attendance was registered in government offices.
NAGAON: The nationwide strike called today by ten central trade unions along with various independent federations against the anti-people and anti-labour policies of the BJP-led NDA government, hit normal life here at Nagaon today.
During the strike, the transport, banking and other key sectors were completely affected in the district and educational institutions, colleges, shops as well as other commercial establishments, governmental and private sector offices remained closed till the evening. Police detained around 50 picketers during the strike who were released in the afternoon.
BOKAKHAT: The nationwide strike in protest against the CAA-2019 and other anti-people policies of NDA-led Government today passed off peacefully in Bokakhat subdivision. No vehicles except the long distance ASTC buses and local private vehicles plied during the bandh hours. Field and factory works of tea gardens under Bokakhat branch ACMS (INTUC) were paralysed due to absence of workers and employees. Workers of nearly 20 tea gardens under Bokakhat branch ACMS shouted slogans in front of the factory offices against the CAA and the anti-labour policies.
Speaking to this correspondent, the secretary of the Bokakhat branch of ACMS said that all the tea workers of 19 tea gardens under the guidance of garden sanghas� secretaries, strongly protested against the anti-labour policy and also demanded to withdraw the recently imposed Citizenship Amendment Act.
A public meeting was also held at the Numaligarh Tiniali which was attended by a large number of tea workers drawn from Numaligarh TE, Borchapori TE, Behora TE, Bokakhat TE, Diffloo TE etc. Amongst others who spoke in the rally were Amrit Tanti (Behora), Manoj Tanti, Debeswar Tanti, Rabilal Guwala etc. The NRL workers union also extended its support to the bandh call.
