Normal life was disrupted in the city on Tuesday due to the nationwide strike called by the Central trade unions to protest against the anti-labour policies of the UPA government. The impact of the general strike accentuated with the Left parties organised a State bandh parallel to the strike.
The strike hit all kinds of commercial activities with shops and other business houses, including banks, joining in the strike expressing solidarity with the striking trade unions which are seeking a host of demands. The schools, shops, business establishments and other educational institutions remained closed.
Many bank customers were left at sea as employees of PSU banks refused to conduct transactions as part of the protest.
The functioning of the government offices was also badly hit with employees of many government institutions like Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) participating in the strike.
Buses off the road
Buses kept off the roads in the early hours. However, public transport was not hit as the APSRTC restored the operations by 11 a.m. The roads wore a deserted look with only skeletal buses and private vehicles plying.
The Left parties, CPI and CPI(M), staged a demonstration in front of the Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) as part of the State bandh. They blocked the movement of RTC buses, and organised a rasta roko. They also took out three rallies from Lenin Centre, NTR Circle Patamata and Vastralatha to register the protest against the spiralling prices and corruption. CPI district secretary A. Vanaja, CPI city secretary K. Subba Raju, and CPI(M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao spoke.
They charged the State Government with putting a heavy burden on common people.
The working class and people would teach a befitting lesson to the government of it kept ignoring their welfare, and did not mend its ways.
Bharatiya Mazdoor Maha Sangh city president Puccha Pornachandra Rao, and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh S. Dasaratha Rama Raju and others submitted memorandum to the district collector on labour problems, spiralling prices etc.
CITU leader N. Ch. Srinivas, AIFTU leaders T. Purnachandra Rao and Lakshman Rao, and Insurance Employees Union leaders claimed that the strike was a great success.
The nationwide general strike called by trade unions in protest against the Central government's anti-people policies evoked good response in the district. There was no untoward incident as the agitators staged their protest peacefully.
Normal life was hit as the public transport services were paralysed.
APSRTC buses kept its fleet confined to depots due to fear of attacks by agitators.
A massive rally was taken in the city by hundreds of activists of INTUC, AITUC, CITU, and other trade unions, who expressed concern that the Central government was helping the affluent sections in expanding their business empires while stifling the voice of the working class.
Banks, insurance companies, and other business establishments remained closed as the strike received support from employees and workers.
Contract workers staged a protest at the Government General Hospital demanding better working conditions and better wages.
Telugu Desam leader Mannava Subba Rao, CPI and CPI(M) district secretaries Muppalla Nageswara Rao and D. Rama Devi led the agitation.
