MP: Banking, insurance services hit on 2nd day of strike

The two-day nationwide strike called by central trade unions had partial effect in the state capital where banking, insurance, postal, PSU units and other commercial activities were largely affected on the second day of the shutdown today.

"The bandh had a partial effect in Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur but it is total in Sehore, Gwalior, Sagar, Ratlam and other major towns," Trade Unions Joint Forum spokesman Pushan Bhattacharya told PTI.

A report from Gwalior said that the Gwalior-Barouni Bundelkhand Express train was today stopped at the railway station for nearly 15 minutes by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) members, who squatted on the railway track and climbed over the train's engine.

Markets were also closed in the city. A tempo driver was manhandled by protestors at Thatipur, police said.

The bandh has a partial effect on PSU major BHEL, Bhattacharya said. "As per our reports large number of employees and workers belonging to organised and unorganised sectors also abstained from work on the second-day of the strike which affected banking, insurance, postal and other commercial activities in a major way," he said.

Eleven central trade unions are supporting the bandh and people from the unorganised sector, including transport, mandi and anganwadi, are also participating in the strike on the second day, he said.

However, emergency services including hospitals and petrol pumps remained open.

Trade unions have put forward a charter of 10 demands before the central government and bank managements.

The demands include urgent steps to control price rise, strict enforcement of labour laws, social security net for workers in the unorganised sector, stopping disinvestment of PSUs and raising minimum wages.