Nationwide union strike evokes mixed response in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Jan 8: The two-day nationwide strike called by trade unions against the alleged repressive labour policies by the Narendra Modi government evoked mixed response in Karnataka on Tuesday.
While buses of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) stayed off the roads in most parts of the state, causing inconvenience to the people travelling to distant places, private buses, auto, taxi and metro services were available as usual.
Mixed response to strike have been reported so far from Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad among others. In many districts, holiday was declared in schools and colleges, with examinations being postponed.
Very few Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses were seen plying on the roads. Officials said passengers were also few in number, as most of them were aware of strike and have opted for other modes of transport. Two BMTC buses were pelted with stones by miscreants near Malleswaram here, they said.
There were complaints about auto drivers charging exorbitant fares from passengers here, Hubballi among other places. Authorities said action would be initiated against such drivers.
Hotels, shops and establishments like malls and film theatres functioned as usual, with their unions extending a moral support to the strike. Bank services are likely to be disrupted.
The unions have decided to hold a protest march from Town Hall in the city to Freedom Park on Tuesday and, on Wednesday, from Town Hall to the Raj Bhavan.
Adequate security arrangement has been made to ensure that no untoward incident took place, police said.
Describing the strike as "illogical, irrational and politically-motivated" move called by "frustrated elements", the state Bharatiya Janata Party has called upon the people to reject it and carry on with their daily activities.
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Nitish did not project Samrat as new CM: Bihar minister
Patna (PTI): Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary rejected suggestions that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is expected to step down soon to enter the Rajya Sabha, has projected his deputy Samrat Choudhary as his successor.
Kumar had, during his tour of Jamui district on Wednesday as part of the Samriddhi Yatra, pointed towards Samrat Choudhary, a senior BJP leader, and remarked, "He shall be looking after Bihar and the state will make tremendous progress."
This led to speculation in a section of the media that Kumar, who heads the JD(U), was hinting that he wanted his deputy as the new CM.
However, when questions were posed to Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who is a senior JD(U) leader, he shot back, "I was very much present there. So, please do not come up with your interpretations before me."
The JD(U) leader, though, admitted that as a deputy CM, Samrat Choudhary has been sincerely working with the chief minister, who has been in the habit of encouraging all his cabinet colleagues by saying he or she will be looking after things.
"There is nothing new in that. You people (journalists) are imagining that it is some new signal," he said.
Chaudhary was interacting with journalists at the chief minister's residence late in the evening after the last Iftaar party the JD(U) president hosted in his present capacity.
He said, "Our chief minister has always cared about the minorities, and this is the reason he invites Muslims to his house every year during the holy month of Ramadan."
Asked whether the longest serving CM appeared emotional on the occasion, Chaudhary remarked cryptically, "Politics has its own dynamics. It is not guided by sentiments."
After Kumar gives up the seat of power, the new government is likely to be headed by the BJP, the single largest party in the assembly.
Sources close to the JD(U) president claim that his son Nishant, who was inducted into the party last week, was likely to be made the deputy CM in the new government.
