Nation-wide strike hits banking, transport sector

PTI

New Delhi, 28 Feb 2012: Banking and transport services were hit in some parts today as the nation-wide 24-hour strike called by 11 major trade unions to protest government’s "anti-labour" policies and rising prices evoked a mixed response.

 

In West Bengal, over 100 pro-strike supporters were arrested in different districts for obstructing rail and road traffic.

 

Shops, markets and business establishments were mostly closed in some areas, while state-run buses and trams plied with fewer passengers.

 

Life was normal in some Trinamool Congress strongholds, including Behala, where shops were open and vehicles plied as usual.

 

Attendance at the West Bengal state secretariat, Writers’ Buildings, was at an ’unusual’ 65 per cent in the wake of the warning to state government employees by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that absence from duty will be treated as break in service.

 

A reporter of a TV news channel was assaulted at Ganguly Bagan area during the clash between pro and anti-strike supporters, Joint commissioner of Police (Hq) Jawed Shamim said.

 

In the country’s commercial capital, Mumbai, the strike had a partial impact with financial institutions getting affected.

 

Barring banking and insurance sector, which have a large presence of trade unions, normal life was largely unaffected in the metropolis with all essential services especially public transport functioning as usual.

 

"The shutdown in the banking and financial sector has been complete. The RBI’s clearing houses are shut. So the private and foreign banks where we do not a have a presence, also get affected," General Secretary of All India Bank Employees Association, Vishwas Utagi claimed.

 

In Delhi, the strike had little impact though normal functioning of PSU banks were affected and a number of autos and taxi drivers kept their vehicles off the roads to take part in the protest.

 

Punjab, Chandigarh and Haryana witnessed disruptions in the banking and transport sector.