Trains stopped, shutdown begins in Bihar

Several trains were halted in Bihar as the Left parties and others on Monday began a nationwide shutdown to protest demonetisation, police said.

The supporters and workers of the Left parties including the CPI, CPI-M, CPI(ML) and other parties stopped over a dozen long route trains at Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur railway stations.

"Several trains were halted to enforce shutdown," a police officer said. Roads were also blocked at various places across the state.

However, ruling parties of the grand alliance in Bihar -- the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress -- have decided not to join the shutdown, but to stage protest march against demonetisation.

While another ruling party Janata Dal-United of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has decided to keep away from both the shutdown and protest against domenetisation.

Infact, Nitish Kumar has repeatedly publicly supported demonetisation that prompted BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday and Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan to thank him.

"The state administration has made elaborate security arrangements in view of the shutdown," said a senior government official.

The Left parties enjoy a strong support base in over a dozen districts in Bihar.

--IANS

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