Strike fails to evoke much response in West Bengal

The nationwide strike called by central trade unions today failed to evoke much response in West Bengal as nearly 270 bandh supporters, including Siliguri mayor Ashok Bhattacharya, were arrested from across the state.
Government and other offices functioned normally. Transports facilities like state-run and private buses, trams, metro, trains were in service. Most of the shops and markets were also open.
All banks, however, remained closed.
Police personnel were deployed at all important areas throughout the state to maintain peace and normalcy.
Education Minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters here that state secretariat 'Nabanna' recorded almost 99 per cent attendance while it was 98 per cent in other government offices.

"The people have rejected the bandh," he claimed.

He said two buses were damaged by bandh supporters.
Official sources said that nearly 270 bandh supporters were arrested in the state. Those arrested included Siliguri Mayor Ashok Bhattacharya and Jibesh Sarkar, convenor of Darjeeling district left front.
TMC leader and Minister Bratya Basu offered rose flowers to the people on the road thanking them for foiling the strike.
Barring few minor scuffles at some areas, there was no major incident of violence during the strike, police said.
Chatterjee said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is trying to bring back work culture in the state and bandh should not be called.

"I congratulate the people of (West) Bengal for putting a
bandh to bandhs. Thank you to all. We thank the young people for defying the bandh today. This is a positive sign for future of Bengal. Those who came to work today will get an extra holiday during Durga Puja", she said in her statement.
The trade unions however claimed moral victory.
"The people of the state have willingly participated in the strike. In most of the places it is peaceful but in certain areas TMC used muscle power to break the strike," CITU State President Shyamal Chakraborty told