Even though the Bharat Bandh called by 10 Central trade unions is set to affect normal life in the State on Wednesday, Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain’s two-sided statement on his party BJD’s support to the shutdown created flutters on Tuesday.
Responding to a query of reporters, Swain had first said, “Unemployment and economic slowdown have increased. People are suffering. Instead of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’, ‘Sabka Vinas’ is taking place. We are extending our support to the farmers and labourers who have given the bandh call.”
However a few minutes later, he took a U-turn and said, “My statement in the media a little while ago comes from the fact that I am the Working President of Hind Mazdoor Sabha and taking up the plight of the labourers and working class is my moral duty. But this has in no way any bearing to the BJD’s decision to either support or oppose tomorrow’s strike.”
He said he respects whatever decision his party supremo CM Naveen Patnaik has taken/will take.
The Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association has decided to suspend bus services till 6 pm on Wednesday. Similarly, auto-rickshaws would stay off the roads. As the protesters are expected to stage Rail Roko, train services are also likely to be disrupted.
Banking services at all public sector banks are likely to be affected.
Besides, shops and other commercial establishments, schools, colleges and other educational institutions would remain closed. The Utkal University postponed all examinations scheduled for Wednesday. The Indian Council of Agriculture Research has also decided to postpone its NEET 2020 examination scheduled on Wednesday.
DCP Anup Sahoo assured that the Commissionerate Police would make effort to leave NHs blockade-free and ensure that train services are not affected as well. Total 15 platoons of police personnel would be deployed at important places, including the Secretariat.
Notably, Central trade unions, including AIUTUC, CITU, AITUC and Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), have called the bandh to protest against the Central Government’s ‘anti-labour’ policies, slowdown in country’s economy and skyrocketing of prices of essential commodities. They also demand scrapping of proposed labour reforms, a provision of minimum wage of Rs 21,000 per month and revocations of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).
Emergency services like ambulance and medicine shops, examinees and milk vans would be exempted from the bandh’s purview.