Trade union strike: Twin city stops for few hours

BHUBANESWAR: The prominent trade union organisations like CITU, INTUC, AITUC in the State with other social organisations observed bandh in the twin city, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, on Tuesday to support all India strike call given by national-level trade union centres. Due to dawn to dusk bandh, all forms of transportation services and bank services paralysed for 12-hour in the twin city. Shops, business establishments, offices of the insurance companies, Central Government offices and petrol pumps were found shut at several places in the city.

After 6 am, the protesters started their processions in the city by flaunting placards bearing different slogans against liberalisation and globalisation of economy and to strengthen the Indian labour law. Some protesters blocked the road by burning tyres on the road, while some other protesters sat on the railway line to block the trains. On the other hand, the members of the Bank Employees’ Association observed bandh in front of their respective banks in the city.

Employees of Reserve Bank and NABARD along with All Odisha Bank Employees Association joined in the bandh. Even the members of the All Odisha Auto Chalak Mahasangha also joined in the bandh supporting all India strike to press their demands before the Government. Like other protesters of trade union organisations, Auto rickshaw drivers also conducted a procession to mark the bandh.

Protesting price rise, corruption, violation of labour rights, free market policies and disinvestment which would result in loss of jobs, thousands of protestors came out in a massive rally and demonstrated outside the office of the East Coast Railway. Train services were affected as strike supporters blocked railway tracks in some places. Several trains were halted in the city railway stations including Khurda Road, Rourkela, Berhampur and Sambalpur due to demonstrations on the tracks, the railway officials said.

“We will continue this fight on the coming days against the Government’s neo liberalisation policy in economy, which is creating unemployment in the country. Rich is becoming richer and poor becomes poorer due to this policy,” said CITU State president Shivaji Patnaik.

To control the law and order situation, 15 platoon police force were deployed in the capital city. In some places, the senior police officials were physically present to keep eye on the situation. While the police arrested some protesters keeping in security point of view and later released them. No untoward incidents have been happened in the city, said the police officials.