Sporadic violence during BJP-called Bengal shutdown
Kolkata, Sep 26 : Sporadic incidents of violence and vandalism were reported from some West Bengal districts on Wednesday during the BJP sponsored 12-hour shut down in the state. Normal life though remained largely unaffected in the capital city and adjoining suburbs.
Most of the impact of the shutdown was felt in parts of North Dinajpur district where two youths were allegedly killed during a clash last week between agitating students and the police over teacher recruitment at a state-run school.
Condemning the incident the Bharatiya Janata Party had called for Wednesday's shutdown and demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the matter.
The BJP supporters created road blockades in several areas in the district by felling tree trunks and burning tyres in the Islampur area. A number of state-run buses were vandalised and set on fire.
Women and youths, armed with bamboo sticks and iron rods, were seen obstructing the traffic on the roads.
Clashes between the ruling Trinamool Congress and BJP supporters took place in Cooch Behar and Nadia districts. The police resorted to baton charge and used tear gas shells to disperse the mob.
Train services were partially disrupted in both Sealdah and Howrah division of the Eastern Railway.
Titagarh, Aranghata (Ranaghat Gede section), Krishnanagar, Barasat, Pyradanga (Kalyani Ranaghat section) and Bhabla (Barasat Bangaon) routes in the Sealdah division were obstructed.
In the Howrah division, agitators obstructed train movement at Bansberia (Bandel Katwa section) and at Baidyabati (Howrah Bandel section).
A number of state-run buses were vandalised in Howrah and Cooch Behar districts.
In Kolkata, though, people hit the streets in the morning and many public and private buses, taxis, autos were seen playing normally on the roads. Most shops remained closed.
The state BJP leadership said people were spontaneously supporting the shutdown.
"While buses are available, most of them are running empty. I got into a number of buses since morning and requested the commuters to support our cause.
"None of the buses remain this empty during office hours on a general day. This shows people are spontaneously supporting the shutdown," state BJP leader Roopa Ganguly said.
"We will not resort to any form of violence. We know Trinamool is always prepared to attack us. But we are holding the shutdown in a peaceful manner," she claimed.
State Minister and Trinamool Congress' Secretary General Partha Chatterjee had said that the government would take all measures to maintain public utility services.
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh has said there would be repercussions if the ruling Trinamool deploys hooligans or uses the administration to foil the movement.
The state government has issued a circular stating its offices would remain open on Wednesday and no leave would be granted. It also urged banks, educational institutions including schools and colleges to remain open.
Additional police personnel have been deployed throughout the state to prevent any disruption or violence in connection with the shutdown.
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Pvt bus operators demand immediate hike in payment rates for buses requisitioned by EC
Kolkata (PTI): A representative body of private bus operators in West Bengal on Tuesday demanded an immediate announcement of higher payment rates for requisitioned vehicles to be deployed during the assembly elections next month, alleging that repeated appeals to the Election Commission in this regard have been ignored.
In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate said that despite two rounds of communication with the authorities, no decision has yet been conveyed to them for hiking the rates for acquiring buses and minibuses for poll duty.
Even after two letters to the CEO’s office regarding the fare for the acquisition of buses/minibuses for elections, the operators have not received any decision so far, Syndicate Secretary Tapan Banerjee told PTI.
“The election dates have been announced for April 23 and 29. Central forces have already arrived in the state, and the administration has begun to requisition the buses for their movement. But we are yet to know the EC’s response to our demands,” he said.
“As we have to bear the expenses of fuel and wages of our conductors and drivers, our demand must be addressed immediately,” Banerjee added.
The bus operators have placed a detailed set of demands, including revised daily rates excluding fuel costs. “We demand Rs 4,000 per day (excluding diesel) for ordinary buses, Rs 4,500 for express buses, and Rs 5,500 for AC buses,” the letter stated.
In addition, the union has sought a daily allowance for workers.
“A daily allowance of Rs 500 must be provided to workers on duty,” it said.
The letter also stressed payment terms, demanding advance compensation and timely settlement of dues.
“At least 75 per cent of the payment should be made in advance, and the remaining amount must be cleared within 15 days of bill submission,” the union said.
Raising concerns about workers’ voting rights, the union further stated, “Arrangements for postal ballots must be ensured for workers on duty so that no worker is deprived of voting.”
Among other logistical concerns, the union demanded that a bus from one district should not be deployed in another.
