A nationwide strike called by 10 trade unions to protest against the central government’s alleged anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies evoked a mixed response in Tripura on Wednesday. No violence was reported during the bandh from anywhere in the state.
BJP leader Papiya Datta said people rejected the Bharat bandh call. “If we see the history of the Left Front in the world, there are only agitations, bandhs, meetings, and processions organised by them to stall development. The state is seeing progress under CM Manik Saha’s leadership. We didn’t have to ask people to open shops or run vehicles on the roads…,” he said.
Activists of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh said vehicular movement was normal everywhere. “We opposed the bandh. Vehicles at different places like Udaipur, Kailashahar and others are running normally like on other days,” said an activist of the pro-government trade union.
Leaders of the Left Front and the Left-aligned CITU asserted that the people responded to the bandh by foiling the ruling party’s “attempts to suppress the agitation”.
Former minister Manik Dey said, “People are respectful towards democracy. We will continue our agitations in the coming days as well.”
Veteran CPM leader Pabitra Kar said there were threats from the ruling BJP and TIPRA Motha at many places. “Still people came and joined the protest,” the former deputy speaker said.
CITU leader and former MP Shankar Prasad Datta said the bandh was successful in the state despite threats allegedly given by the ruling party since Tuesday. “In Tripura, people have responded to the bandh.We noticed deserted roads in both city and villages around 10-11 am today, the time when a huge rush is seen on normal days. Nearly 80 per cent of public transport vehicles didn’t hit the roads today,” he said.
