Bharat Bandh evokes partial response in NE

AGARATALA/ ITANAGAR: The 'Bharat Bandh' called on Tuesday by the farmer unions over the contentious farm laws enacted by the Central government, evoked partial response in the north-eastern States.

Banking operations across the north-eastern region were partially hit as a section of bank employees joined the countrywide shutdown while another section joined their duties.

According to the officials, train and flight services in most north-eastern States remained unaffected by the nationwide strike.

An official of the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) said in Guwahati the train services were unaffected in its jurisdictions though some picketers in a few places tried to halt the plying of passenger trains, but the security forces dispersed them.

In BJP-ruled Assam, markets, shops and business establishments were open in some places and closed in many parts, especially in the semi-urban and rural areas.There were very few passenger vehicles on the roads. But many government offices functioned almost normally and schools and other educational institutions also remained open, though with very less attendance.

In another BJP-ruled State Tripura, shops and markets were closed in some places, but were open in some sub-divisions, including capital city Agartala with fewer shoppers. The number of private and passenger vehicles was less in operation.

All India Kisan Sabha leader and former Parliamentarian Narayan Kar claimed that the 'Bharat Bandh' evoked a massive response everywhere as the shops and markets were closed and most passenger and private vehicles went off the roads.

BJP spokesman Nabendu Bhattacherjee said the people outright rejected the shutdown everywhere.

The nationwide shutdown evoked very little response in other north-eastern States, including Meghalaya and the BJP-ruled Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Different parties, including the Congress and Left parties have extended their support to the farmers, who are agitating for repealing the new farm laws. (IANS)

ITANAGAR CORRESPONDENT ADDS: Normal life remained largely unaffected in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday. Private cars and public transport were seen on the roads as usual. All the markets and business establishment remained open, while government and private offices, including banks, functioned normally. However, long-distance vehicles stayed off the roads, said Police.

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