Bharat Bandh LIVE updates: Normal life affected in Kerala, Bengal, Assam

Bharat Bandh LIVE updates: Banking services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance are expected to be impacted due to the strike

Ten central trade unions have called for Bharat Bandh, a nationwide strike, today against government's "disinvestment, privatisation and labour reform policies". Central trade unions like INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various bank employee associations, including AIBEA, All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM) will be participating in the strike. Banking, transport and other services across the country are likely to be hit today. However, services at private sector banks are unlikely to be impacted.

Trade unions feel that the government is disrespectful towards workers in its “policy and action.” One of the key demands of the unions has been to increase the minimum wages of workers. 

This is the fourth nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions since the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government came to power in 2014.

Meanwhile, in Kerala, the trade unions exempted the state's tourism sector from today's general strike.

ALSO READ: Bharat Bandh: ICAR NET 2020 postponed, JEE Main, UPTET may be delayed too

9:48 PM

Trade unions' strike hits jute sector in West Bengal

The nationwide strike by trade unions on Wednesday impacted the jute sector in West Bengal, as a number of mills remained shut, sources said. Jute mill managements said only a handful of mills were operational in Hooghly, Barrackpore, Bhatpara and Naihati.

 

 

9:31 PM

Banking, transport services hit; normal life disrupted in some parts of the country

Banking and transport services were disrupted and normal life impacted in some parts of the country on Wednesday as tens of thousands of workers affiliated to Left and Congress-backed trade unions led a strike to protest the union government's economic policies.

 

9:30 PM

Strike evokes mixed response in Tripura

Stray incidents of violence were reported from some areas of Tripura on Wednesday during the strike called by trade unions which evoked a mixed response in the BJP-ruled state.

 

9:29 PM

Trade unions in Aurangabad join nationwide strike

Trade unions in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra on Wednesday joined the nationwide strike called to protest against the Centre's "anti-labour" policies.

 

3:54 PM

Trades unions hold protests in Himachal despite snowfall, rain

Trade unions held protests in Shimla and other parts of Himachal Pradesh in response to the nationwide strike call despite heavy snowfall and rain.

 

3:53 PM

No effect of strike in Mumbai, most of Maharashtra; transport normal

The nationwide strike seems to have failed to evoke much response in Maharashtra till Wednesday afternoon with transport and banking services remaining largely unaffected in many districts as well as in the country's financial capital.

12:53 PM

Congress, left leaders taken into custody for participating in general strike in Andhra Pradesh

Leaders of the Congress, CPI and CPM were taken into custody as they staged a sit-in protest on the highway outside the RTC bus station in Vijayawada on Wednesday as part of the nationwide general strike called by various organisations.

 

Reports said employees stayed off duties in various public sector undertakings, mostly in Visakhapatnam.

 

Most of the banks remained shut.

 

Rallies were taken out by the Left parties and trade unions in major towns and cities of Andhra Pradesh, opposing the policies being adopted by the Central government.

In Vijayawada, a rally was taken out from Radham Centre to Lenin Centre.

 

In Machilipatnam too a rally was organised from Koneru Centre.

12:37 PM

Congress, left leaders taken into custody for participating in general strike in Andhra Pradesh

Leaders of the Congress, CPI and CPM were taken into custody as they staged a sit-in protest on the highway outside the RTC bus station in Vijayawada on Wednesday as part of the nationwide general strike called by various organisations.

 

Reports said employees stayed off duties in various public sector undertakings, mostly in Visakhapatnam.

 

Most of the banks remained shut.

 

Rallies were taken out by the Left parties and trade unions in major towns and cities of Andhra Pradesh, opposing the policies being adopted by the Central government.

In Vijayawada, a rally was taken out from Radham Centre to Lenin Centre.

 

In Machilipatnam too a rally was organised from Koneru Centre.

12:27 PM

Strike affects mining activities in Jharkhand, say trade unions; officials dismiss claim

Mining activities in Jharkhand were affected due to the general strike on Wednesday, claimed trade union leaders, even as officials asserted that situation was normal in the sector.

 

The strike, however, did not impact normal life in the state with public transport plying as usual and markets and other commercial establishments operating normally.

Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh leader A K Jha claimed that workers did not turn up for duty affecting mining activities in the state.

 

Dismissing the claim, officials said there was no impact of the strike in the sector.

 

"There is no impact of the strike. Mining and dispatch work are going on and employees have reported to duty as any other day," Bharat Coking Coal Ltd Chairman-cum-Managing Director P M Prasad told reporters in Dhanbad.

 

A senior Central Coalfields official also said there was no impact as production and transport activities were functioning normally at its facilities.

12:24 PM

Strike near total in Left-ruled Kerala

The day-long strike called by central trade unions was near total in Left-ruled Kerala on Wednesday, with vehicles, including state-owned KSRTC and private buses keeping off the roads.

 

In the state capital, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) did not operate city and long distance services.

 

Very few private vehicles and autorickshaws were seen plying on roads.

 

As Sabarimala pilgrims have been exempted from the strike, KSRTC buses are taking Ayyappa devotees to Pamba.

12:06 PM

Public sector banks, roadways join nationwide strike call in Chandigarh

Several outfits of public sector banks, roadways, post office and farmers in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday joined the one-day nationwide strike call given by 10 central trade unions to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

 

Employees of public sector banks joined the strike, impacting banking services in the region.

 

Representatives of trade unions and roadways unions held protests at several places, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Bathinda in Punjab and raised slogans against the government in support of their demands.

 

There were reports that some factory workers were stopped from going to work by representatives of trade unions in Jalandhar.

 

Public transport services at a few places, including Ludhiana in Punjab, were affected.

11:58 AM

A bus vandalised in Cooch Behar during the Bharat Bandh

11:27 AM

Lukewarm response to trade unions' bandh call in Lucknow

The nationwide strike called by trade unions on Wednesday evoked a lukewarm response in Lucknow as life was normal during morning hours.

 

Usual traffic was seen on the main thoroughfares of the state capital and shops and business establishments opened at their usual time.

 

Most of the schools, colleges and other educational institutions as well as offices reported normal attendance.

11:07 AM

Protesting trade unions' demands include a minimum pension of Rs 6,000 for everyone, minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, adequate supply of ration to people.

11:05 AM

Banking services impacted due to nationwide trade union strike

Banking services were impacted on Wednesday as employees went on a nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

 

Branch activities including cash withdrawal deposit in public sector banks in many places across the country have been affected due to the strike.

 

Most of the lenders had informed their customers in advance about the strike call given by All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM), and its impact on banking services.