Alok Mishra
Patna: The strike call given by different trade unions across the country evoked mixed response in Bihar particularly in Patna. The call has been given to protest the anti-labour policies of the centreand press their 12 point charter of demands.
ASHA workers held demonstration at Frazer Road Crossing, Patna, while members of other organizations staged demonstrations in Nalanda, Muzaffarpur, Banka, Bhagalpur, Purnia and Gaya.
The strike also impacted transportation in the state capital. Mithapur Bus Stand wore a deserted look as not a single long distant bus operated from here causing much hardship to the people. Even the autos remained off the road till afternoon on majority of the routes in Patna. Those who plied their three-wheelers on some of the routes in the afternoon charged heavy fare from the passengers. Raj Kumar Jha, associated with All India Road Transport Workers Federation, and Patna Zila Auto Chalak Sangh president Navin Mishra, claimed that not a single auto plied on any route of Patna. They claimed that the bandh had the support of 11 trade unions.
The supporters of Central Trade Union staged demonstration at Banka railway station and also stopped Banka-Rajendra Nagar Inter City there causing hardship to the passengers. The bandh supporters also stopped Howrah-Jainagar Ganga sagar Express for over 20 minutes at the outer signal at Madhubani railway station. The movement of trains was also paralysed at Darbhanga. The bandh supporters also disturbed movement of trains at Saharsa at Kutchery halt there and raised slogans. Movement of trains was also affected at Araria. The employees at Suryagarha in Lakhisarai also staged demonstration at block office. The band supporters also disrupted movement of vehicles on NH-31 and raised slogans against the anti-labour policies of the centre.