Bundh near total in Mangalore

Mangalore, February 28: Normal life was disrupted in city on Tuesday due to the country-wide strike called by central trade unions to protest the 'anti-labour' policies of the UPA government at the Centre.

All the city and service buses kept off the roads following reports of stone pelting on a few buses in different parts of the city in the early morning.

Miscreants pelted stones at private government buses at Besant, Mahendra Arcade, and Lalbag and Adyar-Kannur area in the early morning. It is learnt that a bus driver also suffered injuries during the incident.

Around 50% of the shops and business establishments remained closed. The strike also affected functioning of banks and offices as pro-Left unions in the state sector also joined the protest against the 'neo-liberal economic and labour policies' pursued by the UPA government.

The absence of buses put passengers, who were on their way to attend some programmes and emergencies, into hardship. Some construction workers were seen waiting in the bus stops in the morning.

Many private schools and colleges too were remained closed. Government education institutions and professional colleges had thin attendance.

The City wore a deserted look with few people seen walking on the road and few vehicles plying. People who came from Bangalore and other places in bus and trains were seen struggling to reach their destinations as there were no buses plying.

Train passengers were taken for a ride by few taxis at the railway station. As many auto rickshaw drivers unions supported the bundh, the number of auto rickshaws were very less across the city, thus contributing to the hardship of the passengers.

Though all trains left and arrived in time, the Mangalore Central Railway Station premises wore a deserted look.

Sources said that all trains coming to Mangalore and leaving from Mangalore were on time. Though restaurants and stalls inside the Railway Station were functioning normally, their business was hit due to the bundh.

Fortunately, there was no disruption in electricity or water supply and the health sector exempted from the strike.

Labour leaders have claimed that the strike is going to be a historic event and a stern warning against "anti-labour policies" of the Centre.

The key demands of the unions include guarantee of labour rights, end to the contract labour system, bringing workers in the unorganized sector under the social security net and pension benefit for all workers. Besides the Left unions like CITU and AITUC and HMS, the pro-Congress INTUC and pro-BJP BMS are also supporting the strike.

Bundh at Thokkottu(Photos by Mohan Mony)