Normal life in the city and the region was partially affected on Wednesday in view of the Bharat bandh called by various trade union organisations to protest against the labour reforms and other policies of the NDA Government.
Employees of public sector and State undertakings including KSRTC, BSNL group D employees, banks, insurance companies etc., struck work and participated in the bandh which was supported by AITUC, CITU, INTUC, Central Government Employees Union, BSNL Employees Union, Construction Workers Federation etc. The Joint Committee of Trade Unions, Mysore, said the Government was “aggressively pursuing the policy of disinvestment in public sector units apart from privatisation of strategic sectors.”
A massive rally was taken out through the main thoroughfares of the city by trade union members and employees drawn from various factories in the city. Industrial and financial services were crippled as most factories in Metagalli, Hootagalli, Belawadi, Hebbal, Koorgalli industrial areas were shut. However, there was no violence or tension in the industrial areas of Mysuru which remained peaceful, according to Mysore Industries Association Secretary Suresh Kumar Jain.
Business transaction in banks was thrown out of gear as nearly 500 branches of various public sector banks remained shut for the day though all the ATMs were replenished to cater to the public requirement. Similarly, employees of LIC of India stayed away from work and extended their support to the bandh. Many private educational institutions had declared a holiday. But hotels, restaurants, medical shops and other commercial establishments functioned as usual.
The KSRTC withdrew its services in both the city and rural areas as a result of which public transportation was thrown out of gear, accentuating the impact of the bandh. The suburban bus stand in the city which has about 2,400 departures to various destinations wore a deserted look and there was no service on the busy Mysuru-Bengaluru sector either.
The K.R. Circle in the heart of the city and the main commercial areas including D. Devaraja Urs Road, Sayyaji Rao Road, and Ashoka Road were partially affected but commercial establishments in the residential areas functioned as usual. Security had been beefed up in the city to thwart any untoward incident.
