In view of the Bharat Bandh called on Thursday by opposition parties and trade establishments to protest against the Centre’s decision on diesel price hike, fixing limits on usage of subsidised cooking gas, and permitting foreign direct investment in multibrand retail, City Police Commissioner Shailesh Kumar Yadav on Wednesday convened a meeting of officials representing various government departments to discuss security arrangements.
The primary purpose of the meeting, official sources said, was to facilitate movement of essential commodities and normal functioning of public transport systems, and to ensure public peace. The Commissioner offered to provide security back up for the functioning of central government departments, movement of buses attached to Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, and vehicles transporting milk and other essential commodities. The meeting had the participation of officials of BSNL, Railways, Aavin, TNSTC, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, and Revenue department. The trading community, opposing FDI in multi-brand retail, has already expressed support to the day-long bandh.
Official sources said educational institutions seeking security for their vehicles can approach the police over phone: 9443142024 / 9080275432 / 0431 – 2331929. Patrol vehicles will be on the move throughout the day.
The avoidable confusion caused on Tuesday by the flip-flop of the State Education department in declaring a holiday first and then going back on the announcement has caused anxiety among schools and parents, more so at the time of quarterly examinations.
After announcing that schools have to comply with the schedule of the quarterly examination, the department has indicated that a separate examination with a different question paper will be conducted on a later date for those who are unable to attend schools, according to sources in the Directorate of School Education.
However, some private schools that intimated about closure of school on Bandh Day to students after the first announcement by the department have decided to stand by their decision. Since safety of students is paramount, it is better that they remain at home. Else, in case anything untoward happens, we will be held answerable to parents, said the principal of a leading CBSE school in the city.
