 "Strike disrupts life in most parts of India")
Auto-rickshaw and state transport buses remained of roads and public sector banks also remained closed, creating problems for the commuters in most of the states.
Eleven central unions have called the strike to demand urgent steps to control price rise, strict enforcement of labour laws in all places of work, social security net for workers in the unorganised sector, end to disinvestment in PSUs and raising minimum wage to Rs 10,000.
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Though bandh was completely peaceful in Mumbai and national capital Delhi, adjoining NOIDA witnessed stone pelting and burning of over a dozen vehicles by the supporters of the strike and a trade union leader was killed in Ambala.
According to a press statement released by the Haryana Government, the Initial investigations revealed that the incident involving bus driver of Haryana Roadways namely Narender Singh, who was killed outside state roadways workshop in Ambala City in the morning, was a case of accident.
Commuters in the national capital also faced hardships as a section of auto-rickshaws and taxis remained off the road in support of the strike.
Although Metro services were not affected by the strike, bus services were partially hit by the strike as a number of bus unions, including a section of Delhi Transport Corporation employees, have also extended support to the strike.
In Mumbai, people had a normal day today. The two-day national strike did not paralyse city’s life line, the suburban railway and BEST services. Besides, auto rikshaws, taxies and private buses were plying normally while the functioning of shops, hotels and restaurants, private offices was quite normal.
Schools and Colleges were also open as several unions representing teachers, junior and senior college professors did not participate in Bharat Bandh.
Schools and Colleges were also open as several unions representing teachers, junior and senior college professors did not participate in Bharat Bandh.
However, the banking operations including treasury and money market in the financial capital of the country were hit badly by all-India bandh.
Operation at branches especially that of public sector banks came to standstill. One official with Indian Bank’s Association said 80-85 per cent of branches were shut. The branches of private and foreign banks were open for transacting business.
The activity in foreign exchange, bond and money market also dropped sharply. The activity at clearing house (of cheques ) was also impacted by bandh, official with Reserve Bank of India said.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today did keep her promise ensuring sufficient public transport in the city, but there was hardly any takers for the services, making the nationwide strike partially successful.
Flight operations in Kolkata airport and train services in Howrah, Sealdah divisions was normal, despite minor disruptions in sub-urban trainservices in the morning. Although passenger load in Kolkata airport was almost normal, there was a substantial drop in train passengers.
The strike called by 11 Central trade unions, stalled normal life in Kerala but no violent incident was reported.
As the state level co-ordination committee of the trade unions had appealed to the people, not to travel and to the traders not to open their shops on Wednesday and Thursday most of the roads and streets had a deserted look.
In Assam also, public transport remaining completely off the road and many private offices and banks remaining closed. Many business establishments in Guwahati city too kept their shutters down today.
Except few minor incidents of stone pelting at vehicles in Lower Assam, the bandh passed of peacefully across Assam.
In Uttar Pradesh, roadways buses remained off roads and bank branches were closed in support of the strike call, adversely affecting normal life since morning.
Normal life was also hit in Odisha and Left Front-ruled Tripura due to the strike and in Andhra Pradesh, personnel of various public sector organisations stayed away from work.
Banking, Insurance and other commercial activities in Madhya Pradesh were largely affected today due to the two-day nationwide shutdown.
However, it had only partial impact in Tamil Nadu as a majority of shops remained open and transport services plied normally.
In Gujarat also, the strike has hit normal life as workers from varied sectors, including transport and banking, refrained from work, to register protest against government's economic and labour policies.
Normal life was also paralysed in Bihar. The market and business establishments remained shut at many places in the state even as the bandh supporters were seen forcing the traders to down shutters of their shops.
The train and road traffic was also hit badly in several parts of Bihar as the bandh supporters waving red flags staged demonstration before the railway tracks.