Mangaluru, Sep 2: The cities and towns across twin coastal districts of Karnataka on Wednesday woke up to another ‘Bharat Bandh’ with all the private buses and most of the government buses remaining off the roads in Mangaluru and Udupi.
Most of the shops and business establishments were remained closed in Mangaluru and Udupi along with banks and insurance companies.
Dakshina Kannada district administration had already declared holiday for the schools and colleges in the district citing the impact of bandh on transportation service.
Early in the morning the agitators burnt tyres on the roads in Mangaluru, Udupi and Kunapur. Several buses were stoned by miscreants.
In the morning a group of activists of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Karmika Rakshana Vedike and other members of other trade unions want around the Udupi city seeking support from the people for bandh and urging them to keep their shops closed till evening.
Buses belonging to Alva’s Educational Institution and Canara Engineering College in Dakshina Kannada were attacked with stones. Three government buses were damaged due to stone pelting by miscreants at Padil in Mangaluru in the early morning.
The driver of one of the buses also suffered injuries during the attack. However, no other major untoward incident was reported in the morning.
No vehicular movement was seen at State Bank Bus Terminus in the heart of the Mangaluru City. “Today Bus Bandh” posters were seen on the front glasses of parked buses.
Bus stands in other prominent towns of coastal Karnataka including Udupi, Kundapur, Moodbidri, Karwar wore a deserted look.
The passengers who arrived in the Mangaluru from different parts in buses and trains were seen stranded early in the morning. However, after sometime a few auto-rickshaws were seen plying in the city.
The all India strike was in response to the call given by trade unions against the proposed changes in labour laws by the Narendra Modi-led union government.
As many as 10 central trade unions are holding one-day nationwide strike even as BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and National Front of Indian Trade Unions have pulled out.
The coastal district units of the All India Trade Union Congress have supported the bandh. In a release, it alleged that the Union government was acting like an agent of the corporate sector which suppressed labour rights.
Motor Transport and Engineering Workers Union also has supported the bandh. Vasant Achary, CITU leader, Ashok, President, Bus Employees Association, Vishwanath Kulal, Secretary have also said that that the workers of private service, express, and city buses from the district are going on strike. More details are awaited.
Also Read: Mangaluru: Unions slam Modi govt over ‘anti-labour’ policies
Why the strike
- Trade Unions are protesting against Government for making changes in labour laws
- Reportedly, the trade unions are unhappy over the anti-worker economic policies of the BJP Government
Who all are participating in the Bandh
- Initially strike was called by 11 trade unions including Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh(BMS). But RSS led Mazdoor Sangh backed out later saying that it wants to give government some time to ponder over its decision.
- BMS also appealed others to reconsider their decision of Bharat Bandh and give government some time to stand up on our expectations.
- Rejecting Government, BMS appeal, 10 unions are participating in the all India strike.
- These are CITU, INTUC, AITUC, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC and LPF.
- All-India Bank Employees' Association and coal unions may join 10 trade unions in their protest.
What are unions' demands?
- Trade unions decided to go ahead with the strike after their talks with a group of senior ministers last week failed.
- It is being said that Unions are against the labour reforms made by the Centre. Government led Committee had recently proposed to significantly increase minimum wages and make them mandatory across the country.
- Unions have total 12-points charter of demands, including withdrawal of the proposed changes in the labour laws and stopping the disinvestment and privatisation of PSUs.
- Reportedly, the Unions demand an increase in the bonus ceiling as well as widening the coverage of health insurance and provident fund.
- The health insurance and provident fund should include construction as well as workers in schemes such as aan
Comments
Add new comment