BJP shows 'strength' by bandh

West Bengal's flagship IT district started the week on a tumultuous note with political activists going on a rampage early on Monday in an effort to enforce the 12-hour shutdown called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Elsewhere, party activists obstructed trains and set buses on fire, to protest against rising food prices, thereby partially affecting life in the city.

The landmark DLF Complex at Rajarhat, bordering the technology hub, which houses firms such as IBM and Vodafone among others, was surrounded by flag-totting activists for almost an hour, who prevented the entry of employees.

“Around 9 am, a mob of 30-40 people carrying BJP flags came to our IT Park gates and ordered the closure of the five gates. They were barring the entry of all employees into the complex. During the melee, the mob smashed the window panes of the security kiosk at three gates,” a DLF spokesperson said.

“The agitation continued for an hour at different gates. By 10 am, the situation eased out and the employees were allowed into the complex. Work is normal in all offices since then. An FIR was lodged with the New Town Police Station,” he added.

West Bengal IT Principal Secretary Siddhartha, however, gave a different version of the event. “A stray incident of breaking a street light outside the DLF building at Rajarhat at 8 am was immediately attended to by the administration,” he said in an emailed statement. He added that the IT sector has faced no disruption of work during the day due to the strike and the attendance has been close to normal.

On its part, the Sector V Industries Forum expressed dismay at the events that would further mar Brand Bengal's already fragile image.

“It is definitely disappointing that miscreants are creating trouble. Every time we struggle to come back from these events but the damage is done. We would like to be a little more prepared the next time,” the body's Vice-President and Acclaris (India) Managing Director Kalyan Kar said.

The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), too, was critical of the strike. “Bandhs adversely affect the overall development process of the state and the country as a whole. Things can be sprted out through dialogue. We have to keep communicating as this would help in the long run,” Regional Director of CII Eastern Region, Saugat Mukherjee, said.

Indian Chamber of Commerce President Vishambhar Saran said the stike was “unfortunate”. “There needs to be understanding of the implications on the common man and the business community,” he said.

Meanwhile, train services in the Kharagpur and Adra divisions of South Eastern Railways (SER) and the Sealdah and Howrah divisions of Eastern Railways (ER) were affected early on Monday due to agitations at over 30 stations.

Four buses were damaged on VIP Road and another was set on fire at Kankurgachi area, apart from agitations on Howrah Bridge, sources said.