Bhubaneswar: Public transport system is likely to be adversely affected due to the Bharat Bandh call given by Central trade unions tomorrow. As several political parties have extended support to the all India general strike, the private bus owners association has decided to suspend bus services as a precautionary measure.
Apart from several Central Unions, federations representing postal, banking and employees of other sectors, 256 farmer outfits and others will actively participate in the 12-hour bandh, informed CPI leader Ramkrushna Panda.
Panda further informed that the all-India general strike has been called to protest anti-farmer, anti-youth and other policies of the Union Government.
“The strike will be observed against anti-people policies, inflation, government-sponsored violence in educational institutions and other issues affecting the common man,” said Panda.
Though several emergency services will be kept out of the purview of the bandh, special arrangements have been made to ensure that train services and vehicular traffic particularly at railway stations and NH are not affected, said Bhubaneswar DCP Anup Sahoo.
“15 platoons of police force will be deployed in Bhubaneswar. There would be special deployments near important offices and places in the city,” said Sahoo.
Meanwhile, Odisha Minister and senior BJD leader Ranendra Pratap Swain’s statements on the bandh today stirred a controversy. Initially Swain had stated that “Those who were saying ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash,’ are now destroying everything. As the bandh has been called keeping in mind the larger interests, we are supporting it.”
However, Swain later clarified that as he is the working president of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, taking up the plight of the labourers and working class is his moral duty.
“My statement has in no way any bearing to the BJD's decision to either support or oppose tomorrow’s strike. These are different and I accept and respect whatever decision our party supremo CM Naveen Patnaik ji has taken/will take,” tweeted Swain.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president, Niranjan Patnaik informed that the party has already announced support to the bandh which has been called to protest several issues concerning the farmers, youths, labourers and the Constitution of India.
When asked about BJD Minister Ranendra Pratap’s statements of extending support to the bandh, Patnaik said, “I don’t want to comment on it as they (BJD) says one thing in Delhi and changes it in Odisha.”