M A I N   N E W S

Strike disrupts bank, transport services
Faraz Ahmad/TNS

Passengers stranded at the NSCBI Airport in Kolkata during Tuesday’s strike. — PTI

New Delhi, February 28
Public sector banking remained paralysed throughout the country while transport services were hit in most states as the nationwide 24-hour strike called by 11 major trade unions evoked a mixed response, while the Left trade unions led by CITU claimed success.

However, the Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal and the Congress-led government in Kerala claimed to have thwarted Left designs. These governments had made special efforts to defeat the strike, threatening their employees with break in service. There were reports of violent attacks by Trinamool activists on Left workers, leaders and even journalists in West Bengal.

Despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s determined effort to defeat the bandh, shops, markets and business establishments remained closed in many areas, while state-run buses and trams plied with fewer passengers.

But government offices remained open with Mamata pronouncing a day earlier that absence from duty would be treated as “break in service”.

Lathicharge in Srinagar

The police resorted to lathicharge against trade unionists protesting against the “wrong policies” of the government, as part of the countrywide protest in Srinagar on Tuesday. The demonstration was organised at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park, where the protesters tried to block the main road.

Punjab Suffers

Punjab Roadways buses remained off road in Jalandhar. Employees of banks, farm unions and other trade factions also participated in the strike. The Ludhiana industry, which carries out transactions, suffered huge losses. Banks, postal services, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and BSNL were also affected.

Banking OPS affected in Himachal

The banking and insurance sectors were severely hit in the state as employees of public sector financial institutions and trade unions went on a strike. Private sector banks and insurance companies functioned as usual.

Haryana hit

Banking and bus services were hit across the state on Tuesday. Commuters and bank clients suffered the most as buses remained off the road for most part of the day while most scheduled banks also remained closed. Reports of the strike were received from Rohtak, Hisar, Sonepat, Bhiwani and Faridabad, among other places.