Perhaps for the first time in the history of Bengal a bandh called by a prominent political outfit evoked so little response as it did in Kolkata on Friday when most of the vehicles plied, most offices remained open and most people joined work almost showing no regard for the Bharat Bandh called by central trade unions particularly the left Front.
In remaining parts of the State the bandh evoked mixed response with life coming almost to a standstill in Siliguri, Coochbehar, Malda, Behrampore and Jalpaiguri in North Bengal. In South Bengal too the districts like Purulia, Bankura and Burdwan remained partially closed.
Thanks to measures taken by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who on Friday took a flight to Rome to attend Mother Teresa’s beatification ceremony Kolkata the erstwhile city of bandhs remained almost normal throughout the day save some stray clashes between bandh-supporters and Trinamool men and occasional road-jams.
Unlike in the past most public and private transports were visible on the streets though many of them ran half-filled. State Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikary said over 2,000 buses and 99 trams plied on the roads. “Even the revenue generated by the transport department was higher than the usual days.”
Banerjee who left for Rome told the media at the airport that she would “personally monitor the situation from Dubai where I will reach by 2 pm. Till not the city is normal and things will continue to be so throughout the day as the people have rejected the bandh completely.”
The attendance sheet showed near 95 per cent attendance at Government offices save Vikash Bhawan. Most schools were closed but those remaining open saw limited attendance. local train services were normal while long-route trains were blockaded at various places. Air services remained normal.
The CPI(M) and Trinamool members clashed with each other at Behala and the police resorted to lathi-charge. The two sides had a faceoff at lake Market and other areas too causing the police to intervene.
In the North police arrested Siliguri Mayor Asok Bhattacharya and 70 others for trying to enforced bandh. Bengal’s third city witnessed a near-total bandh.
More than a hundred people were arrested and about 15 vehicles were damaged at various places the police said.