Normal life stands still in Bengal
Despite West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s claim, to the contrary, the bandh on Thursday brought normal life to a virtual standstill in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal. The Left Front had given a call for a 12-hour shutdown while the BJP had organised a 24-hour Bharat bandh. It is difficult to say which political dispensation should get the credit for the success of the bandh.
Shops and other business establishments were totally closed while attendance in private offices was thin. Ms Banerjee, however, claimed that the attendance of government employees was nearly 89 per cent which she pointed out was better than even on normal days. She said that the government employees’ attendance showed that a new work culture had emerged in the state. According to the chief minister, 666 people were arrested in the state, including 44 in the city, in bandh-related disturbances.
In schools and colleges, large number of teachers came because of Ms Banerjee’ stern warning. However, classes were not held because of the absence of students. Bandh supporters tried to block roads and train traffic at several places. Suburban train services were disrupted on Sealdah main and Sealdah-Bongaon and Bandel-Katwa sections. All long-distance trains, however, arrived and departed.
Metro Rail was an exception. According to the head of the Metro Rail, Protyush Ghosh, Metro operated 270 trains like any normal day. “However, the number of passengers was at least one lakh less than on a normal working day,” he added.
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