LF geared to make bandh a success, government vows to foil it

The Left Front is geared up to make its 12-hour West Bengal bandh, called to protest against the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, tomorrow a success while the Trinamool Congress-led state government has vowed to foil it.
The state government has ordered all its employees to attend offices on November 28 and the following day.
Over 3,000 police personnel would be deployed in the metropolis tomorrow to tackle any untoward incident, Kolkata Police Additional Commissioner of Police (III) Supratim Sarkar said here today.
Besides, around 179 police pickets have been set up in different sections and important market places, Sarkar said adding that 11 deputy commissioners and 21 assistant commissioners would monitor the situation in the city tomorrow.

Police personnel would also be present at different metro stations, bus depots, tram terminus, ferry ghats as well as KMC-operated garages, fire sub-stations, Sarkar stated.
Additional security arrangements have been made in all 19 districts of the state to ensure normal life, a West Bengal Police officer said.

The state Finance department has issued a circular stating that all employees would be required to attend office on Monday and Tuesday and exceptions would be made only in case of bereavement, maternity leave, hospitalisation and other 'genuine reasons'.
"We oppose bandhs. We will take out a protest march (against demonetisation) on Monday," state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said.

The state government would take all measures to maintain law and order and normal functioning of public services, state Chief Secretary Basudeb Banerjee said.
Additional state transport buses and ferry services would be made available for the public to ensure normal life, Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari said.
The ruling Trinamool Congress has opposed the bandh, saying it was against putting people to more hardship when they are "already facing a lot of problems owing to the scarcity of cash".
On November 28, the TMC will take out a rally from College Square to Esplanade to protest against demonetisation, TMC general secretary Subrata Bakshi said.

Justifying the shutdown, Left Front chairman Biman Bose has said that the strike call was necessary to register protest against demonetisation which caused sufferings to the people.
State Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury said that his party would extend moral support to the strike called by the Left parties, with which it had allied during the last Assembly elections.