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

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.

11:04 AM

Ashok Chavan: Maharashtra government backs today's Bharat Bandh

Maharashtra PWD Minister Ashok Chavan: State government supports today's Bharat Bandh call of different trade unions, govt at the Centre is anti-labour

10:20 AM

The Modi-Shah Govt’s anti people, anti labour policies have created catastrophic unemployment: Rahul Gandhi

9:53 AM

Trade unions' strike hits road, rail traffic in parts of Bengal

Road and rail blockades were reported from several parts of West Bengal on Wednesday as trade union activists along with Left and Congress supporters picketed in support of the 24-hour general strike against the Centre's "anti-people" policies.

 

The strikers took out rallies in parts of the state and blocked roads and railway tracks in North 24 Parganas district. But police removed them to ensure movement of vehicles without hitch.

 

In Kolkata, government buses were plying normally but the number of private buses was less in the early hours. Metro services were normal in the city and auto-rickshaws and taxis were also seen on the roads.

 

Heavy police deployment was seen in several areas of the city, including in Tollygunge, Behala, Esplanade and Jadavpur.

9:48 AM

8:46 AM

Cheques worth Rs 25,000 crore not cleared due to Bank employees strike

Bank unions have claimed that cheques worth Rs 21,500 crore will not be cleared as the Bank employees decided to join the National General strike today.

8:39 AM

8:16 AM

West Bengal: Protesters block railway track in Howrah and Kanchrapara, North 24 Parganas

8:04 AM

Trade unions have a 13-point charter of demands

1. Urgent measures for containing price-rise through universalisation of public distribution system and banning speculative trade in commodity market.

 

2. Containing unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation.

 

3. Stop anti-worker codification of Labour Laws in the name of “Ease of Doing Business”. Ensure strict enforcement of all existing basic labour laws withoutany exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.

 

4. Universal social security coverage for all workers.

 

5. Minimum wages of not less than Rs 21,000/- per month with provisions of indexation.

 

6. Give “Worker” status to all Scheme workers as per the unanimous ILC recommendation and pay them wages and all benefits like the government employees.

 

7. Assured enhanced pension not less than Rs.6,000/- p.m. for the entire working population.

 

8. Stop disinvestment and strategic sale of Central/State PSUs. Stop merger of Public Sector Banks and strictly recover the NPA loans of the Corporates.

 

9. Stop of contracting out/outsourcing permanent perennial work and ensure payment of same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work.

 

10. Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund;

 

increase the quantum of gratuity.

 

11. Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days from the date of submitting application; and immediate ratification of ILO Conventions C 87 and C 98.

 

12. Stop FDI in Railways, Insurance, Coal and Defense Sectors.

 

13. Give complete loan waiver and Guarantee remunerative prices for agricultural products.

7:51 AM

Why labour unions have called for a nationwide strike today

The labour unions feel that the government is disrespectful towards workers in its “policy and action.”

7:41 AM

This is the fourth nationwide strike called by trade unions since 2014

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.