Suryakant Jena

Bhubaneswar: Around 20 crore employees from ten different trade unions began two-day nationwide shutdown (Bharat bandh) today protesting NDA government’s "anti-labour & anti-people policies".

Due to Bharat bandh, normal life has been hit in Odisha with educational institutions remaining closed and businesses hit across several parts of the State.

Train services and other vehicular communication have also been affected at major cities in the State. Protesters staged pickets on national highways in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Balasore, Berhampur and Cuttack. On the other hand, "Rail Roko" agitation was staged in Balasore, Cuttack, Berhampur, Puri and other parts of the State.


Meanwhile, Guwahati-Thiruvananthapuram Express was detained at Balasore railway station while Puri-Ahmedabad Express was halted by agitators in Berhampur. Six railway siding units were also shut down by trade union employees in Bonai.


Around 9 lakh candidates appearing for JEE Main examination across the country including several thousand students in Odisha had a harrowing time due to the shutdown.

Employees of different sectors including banking, education, coal, steel and telecom have extended their support to the strike. Odisha government has also lent its support to the trade union strike.

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