Bharat Bandh LIVE updates: Normal life affected in Kerala, Bengal, Assam

Bharat Bandh LIVE updates: Banking services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance are expected to be impacted due to the strike

9:48 PM

Trade unions' strike hits jute sector in West Bengal

The nationwide strike by trade unions on Wednesday impacted the jute sector in West Bengal, as a number of mills remained shut, sources said. Jute mill managements said only a handful of mills were operational in Hooghly, Barrackpore, Bhatpara and Naihati.

 

 

9:31 PM

Banking, transport services hit; normal life disrupted in some parts of the country

Banking and transport services were disrupted and normal life impacted in some parts of the country on Wednesday as tens of thousands of workers affiliated to Left and Congress-backed trade unions led a strike to protest the union government's economic policies.

 

9:30 PM

Strike evokes mixed response in Tripura

Stray incidents of violence were reported from some areas of Tripura on Wednesday during the strike called by trade unions which evoked a mixed response in the BJP-ruled state.

 

9:29 PM

Trade unions in Aurangabad join nationwide strike

Trade unions in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra on Wednesday joined the nationwide strike called to protest against the Centre's "anti-labour" policies.

 

3:54 PM

Trades unions hold protests in Himachal despite snowfall, rain

Trade unions held protests in Shimla and other parts of Himachal Pradesh in response to the nationwide strike call despite heavy snowfall and rain.

 

3:53 PM

No effect of strike in Mumbai, most of Maharashtra; transport normal

The nationwide strike seems to have failed to evoke much response in Maharashtra till Wednesday afternoon with transport and banking services remaining largely unaffected in many districts as well as in the country's financial capital.

12:53 PM

Congress, left leaders taken into custody for participating in general strike in Andhra Pradesh

Leaders of the Congress, CPI and CPM were taken into custody as they staged a sit-in protest on the highway outside the RTC bus station in Vijayawada on Wednesday as part of the nationwide general strike called by various organisations.

 

Reports said employees stayed off duties in various public sector undertakings, mostly in Visakhapatnam.

 

Most of the banks remained shut.

 

Rallies were taken out by the Left parties and trade unions in major towns and cities of Andhra Pradesh, opposing the policies being adopted by the Central government.

In Vijayawada, a rally was taken out from Radham Centre to Lenin Centre.

 

In Machilipatnam too a rally was organised from Koneru Centre.

12:37 PM

Congress, left leaders taken into custody for participating in general strike in Andhra Pradesh

Leaders of the Congress, CPI and CPM were taken into custody as they staged a sit-in protest on the highway outside the RTC bus station in Vijayawada on Wednesday as part of the nationwide general strike called by various organisations.

 

Reports said employees stayed off duties in various public sector undertakings, mostly in Visakhapatnam.

 

Most of the banks remained shut.

 

Rallies were taken out by the Left parties and trade unions in major towns and cities of Andhra Pradesh, opposing the policies being adopted by the Central government.

In Vijayawada, a rally was taken out from Radham Centre to Lenin Centre.

 

In Machilipatnam too a rally was organised from Koneru Centre.

12:27 PM

Strike affects mining activities in Jharkhand, say trade unions; officials dismiss claim

Mining activities in Jharkhand were affected due to the general strike on Wednesday, claimed trade union leaders, even as officials asserted that situation was normal in the sector.

 

The strike, however, did not impact normal life in the state with public transport plying as usual and markets and other commercial establishments operating normally.

Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh leader A K Jha claimed that workers did not turn up for duty affecting mining activities in the state.

 

Dismissing the claim, officials said there was no impact of the strike in the sector.

 

"There is no impact of the strike. Mining and dispatch work are going on and employees have reported to duty as any other day," Bharat Coking Coal Ltd Chairman-cum-Managing Director P M Prasad told reporters in Dhanbad.

 

A senior Central Coalfields official also said there was no impact as production and transport activities were functioning normally at its facilities.

12:24 PM

Strike near total in Left-ruled Kerala

The day-long strike called by central trade unions was near total in Left-ruled Kerala on Wednesday, with vehicles, including state-owned KSRTC and private buses keeping off the roads.

 

In the state capital, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) did not operate city and long distance services.

 

Very few private vehicles and autorickshaws were seen plying on roads.

 

As Sabarimala pilgrims have been exempted from the strike, KSRTC buses are taking Ayyappa devotees to Pamba.