Bharat Bandh LIVE: Karnataka Anganwadi Worker Dies During Protest, Highway to Delhi Blocked

Mixed Response for Bharat Bandh in Chhattisgarh | Banking and postal services were partially affected in Chhattisgarh as the Central Trade Unions went on a two-day nationwide strike against the government's alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms. Employees of some of the major banks, insurance companies and post offices joined the strike, which evoked a mixed response in the state.

Members of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) protest inside Maidan metro station in Kolkata in support of the two-day Bharat Bandh.

West Bengal: Members of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) protest inside Maidan metro station in Kolkata in support of the two-day nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others. pic.twitter.com/NkihQZRb0M

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

The two-day nationwide general strike, which begins today, is likely to disrupt normal life as transport, bank and other services have been affected in several cities.

Visuals from Hubballi in Karnataka during 48-hour Bharat Bandh called by trade unions. 

Karnataka: #Visuals from Hubballi of the 48-hour nationwide strike called by Trade Unions against Union government demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector pic.twitter.com/E2iji4zNzv

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

Panaji Workers Protest During Bharat Bandh | Thousands of workers walked in a march in the Goa capital Tuesday in support of the two-day nationwide strike called by Central trade unions against the government's alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms. However, normal life remained unaffected in Panaji and other parts of the coastal state where local unions would observe a strike Wednesday.

To ensure Sabarimala pilgrims were not affected by the strike, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has been operating buses from various destinations to Pamba.

A woman collapsed and died at the protest site in North Karnataka's Mundagod town. The 57-year-old, identified as Shanghai Basavanappa Chakrasali, was an anganwadi worker and was part of the protestors who had gathered in the town. 

Response over the strike in Tripura were mixed with most of the schools, government and transport services functioning through the day. Shops and marketplaces in Tripura's Sonamura however remained closed. Earlier, the Tripura unit of the ruling BJP had urged people to boycott the protest. But, Tripura CITU president Manik Dey has claimed that the strike received good response from across the nation. "We followed up since morning and found out that the response has been good. Roads were empty, shops were closed and maximum vehicles were off the roads," he told reporters.

CPI(M) have staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha after the Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2019 was introduced by the Union Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar. "This is going to cut the throat of the working class. This bill is a draconian bill," said CPI(M)'s Anirudhan Sampath. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and RSP's N K Premachandran have also voiced their opposition to the bill. Meanwhile, thousands of workers are still on strike in various parts of the country.

MPs of left parties held up placards with the slogans - 'Universalize PDS' and 'Stop Contract Work' outside the Parliament in a showcase of support for the worker's strike, as tweeted by the CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury. In another tweet Yechury wrote, "The Modi govt with its callousness and policies to just help its cronies to fund its political gimmickry has destroyed lives and livelihoods." 

#WorkersStrike The Left MPs stood in solidarity with the #AllIndiaStrike in the Parliament today. @ndtvindia @ndtv @PTI_News @ANI @SitaramYechury pic.twitter.com/iy1LOEeYlJ

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) January 8, 2019

The Mumbai-Baroda-Jaipur-Delhi national highway has been blocked by over 5,000 people at Charoti in Maharashtra's Palghar district. The blockade is being led by several leaders from the CPI(M), AIKS, CITU, AIDWA and DYFI, including Ashok Dhawale, L B Dhangar, Barkya Mangat and Radka Kalangda . 

Meanwhile, Odisha CM and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik led a protest rally at Delhi's Talkatora stadium to demand an increase in the Minimum Support Price of paddy and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report.  

Odisha CM & BJD President Naveen Patnaik takes part in the protest rally at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium demanding hike in MSP for common paddy to Rs 2930 per quintal & implementation of Swaminathan Commission report. pic.twitter.com/0n6ISM6EAe

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

A union worker alleged that the proposed Trade Union (Amendment) Bill 2018 as cleared by the Cabinet is designed to impose conditions of slavery on the working people and totally abrogate trade union rights.

Violent Demonstrations in Puducherry I Ruckus broke out in Puducherry as protesters attacked a Tamil Nadu government bus going from Puducherry to Cuddalore. A few demonstrators started flinging stones at the bus following a tussle with the police. Buses and auto rikshaws are not plying in Puducherry due to the strike and shops remain closed. 

According to West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights's press release, a show cause notice has been sent to CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakrabarty and other members of the party who participated in a procession in Jadavpur during which a school bus carrying children was attacked. "The Commission expresses its grave concern on this issue where even children are not being spared from violent demonstrations," WBCPCR stated in the release.

General Secretary Maharashtra State Bank Employees Federation Vishwas Utagi told News18  about the 12 demands that the trade unions have listed, which include minimum wage and pensions for the contract labourers. "These are not just economic demands which we are posing for the last 10 years. Now people are saying that we have given our votes, we have given our notes. So now it is the uprising against the Modi government in the Centre and the State," he said from Mumbai's Azad Maidan. 

Transport services in Kerala remain closed for today for the strike. Rail services have been disrupted with many trains running more than 90 minutes late. While several farmer and trade unions are partaking in the strike, officials in the Kerala Trade and Industries Coordination Forum, Kerala Hotel and Restaurants Association, Kerala Travel Mart Society, Kerala Textile and Garment Dealers Association and Bakers Association said that they will not participate in the in the strike. 

PROTESTS IN WEST BENGALI Strike supporters burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and burnt tyres in various parts of West Bengal including Kolkata.In Howrah, Siliguri, Bardhaman, Birbhum, North and South 24 Paraganas, clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress workers and strike supporters as TMC activists tried to stop them from forcibly imposing the strike.Tyres were burnt in Central Avenue of Kolkata to stop buses from plying in the roads. 

In Odisha, traffic on National Highway 16 was halted due to Central Trade Union protests in Bhubaneswar. School, colleges and universities will remain closed in the state today. Train services were hit as trade union activists staged rail roko on the first day of the 48-hour strike at many places including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Balasore, Jaleswar, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Paradip, police
said.

Odisha: Traffic movement affected on National Highway 16 due to protest by Central Trade Unions in Bhubaneswar. Their demands include minimum wages and social security among others., pic.twitter.com/chGKdZk3x3

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

There were mixed responses to the strike from Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad among others. While, public transport still remains unavailable in most of the state, hotels, shops and establishments like malls and film theatres functioned as usual.According to the police, adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.

More than 9.5 lakh candidates will be appearing for the JEE Main exam, which begins today amid two-day nationwide strike called by trade unions.

CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty along with several party workers were detained by the police in West Bengal's Jadavpur. The left leader was leading a procession of protestors and had blocked an arterial road.  Meanwhile, Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union have expressed their solidarity with the trade unions and other educational institution are expected to extend support to the strike. 

Protests Break Out in Karnataka I Protestors have gathered outside Bangalore's Town Hall for the strike and trade union workers in Chitradurga have taken out a protest.  As of 10 AM, 1508 out of 3763 Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses, 854 out of 3226 Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses, 219 out of 2248 North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation buses and 231 out of 2059 North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation's buses are plying. Train services have also been delayed and disrupted due to the bandh.

BEST Buses Remain Off the Road Today I As of 9 AM, all of the 2808 Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) buses scheduled to ply today did not turnout. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has pushed out 37 buses from Kurla, Dadar, Panvel, CSMT and Thane. Last night 10 buses were damaged in stone throwing incidences, injuring one bus driver.

Mumbai: Bus services affected at the CSMT due to the indefinite strike by BEST(Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply&Transport) over demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences etc. pic.twitter.com/SXlTfiZDeB

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

Left party-led protests took place across West Bengal in places like Jadavpur and Sealdah. Railway tracks were filled with protestors, which affected incoming trains. In separate incidences buses were ransacked in Asansol in Burdwan District and North 24 Parganas's Barasat. Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty was detained the protests in Jadavpur.

Clashes Erupt in West Bengal | Tensions erupted  in Asansol during the band called by the left trade unions against the policies of the central government. An SBSTC bus was allegedly ransacked by the supporters of trade unions .  On the other hand there was fresh tension at Hutton road of Asansol city after the band supporters forcefully tried to shut down the shops and private buses. Clashes intensified after the members of the Trinamool Congress went to resume bus services. A ruckus like situation ensued near the Hutton road, as left party and TMC suppoters both opposing and favoring the bandh, charged at one another. The police had to later intervene to take control of the situation. 

West Bengal: Clash between TMC and CPM workers in Asansol during 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector. pic.twitter.com/5oM6TWxnx7

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

Kerala, too, is gripped with Bandh related protests against the Modi government's policies. 

#Kerala: 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector; Visuals from Kochi (pic1&2) and Trivandrum (pic 3) pic.twitter.com/cuKkicTzJW

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members hold protest in Patparganj industrial area against privatisation of public and government sector in Delhi. 

Delhi: All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members hold protest in Patparganj industrial area against privatisation of public and government sector and demanding minimum wages, social security among others pic.twitter.com/jbfilCAwYN

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

BMTC Bus Attacked in Bengaluru | Bandh tensions grip Karnataka, after stones were pelted by miscreants on a BMTC bus near Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru. The Karnataka government has given indirect support to the bandh and almost all state run institutions except hospitals are shut down. However, the tech firms in the IT capital are functioning normally. 

Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) buses will not ply from 5 am today (January 8) as nearly 35,000 workers are on strike after talks with the management failed on Friday evening. The BEST management has invoked MESMA (Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act), and the Industrial court has also  restrained the union from going ahead with the strike. However, not a single bus has left the depots across Mumbai in the past five hours.