Chennai: Normal life remained unaffected in Tamilnadu, but transport, banking and insurance services were hit as the two-day national-wide general strike called by various Trade Unions in protest against the ‘anti-people policies of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre’, entered its second day today.
More than one lakh police personnel, including 15,000 in Chennai City, were deployed on security duty in view of the two-day Bharat Bandh, for which the ruling DMK has pledged its support, while the State government warning its employees of all departments of no work -no pay to those who participated in the strike.
While shops and business establishments functioned as usual, schools and colleges also remained open in Chennai city and in other parts of the State, transport and banking services were badly hit.
Ignoring the State government’s warning, transport department staffs owing allegiance to the ruling DMK’s Labour Progressive Front (LPF), the Congress-affiliated AITUC and the Centre for Trade Unions, participated in the strike.
Banking operations were crippled as cash transactions and cheque clearances came to a grinding halt across the State resulting in large queues in front of ATMs.
The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) termed the strike as a success as the bank employees were opposed to the Centre’s move to privatise the banks.
Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus services were badly hit in Chennai city as only ten per cent of the buses were operating, causing inconvenience to school and college students and office-goers.
However, the main opposition AIADMK had announced that its trade union wing Anna Thozhir Sangam will not participate in the bandh.
In view of the less number of MTC services, heavy crowds were seen in suburban EMU trains and Chennai Metro Train services since morning. People were seen queued up in ticket counters in EMU and Metro stations, which witnessed massive crowds.
Autos affiliated to Unions, which had called for the bandh, also kept off the roads, while those operating were seen fleecing the customers, taking advantage of the agitation. Air services functioned as usual, airport sources.
Several State Express Transport Corporation buses in various divisions of the State also participated in the strike.
Sources said only 30 per cent of the services were operated, while services to neighbouring States were also affected in view of the bandh.