Left defies Mamata Banerjee, to go ahead with Bharat Bandh

Kolkata: The Left parties will observe a 12-hour state-wide strike on Monday to protest against the Narendra Modi government’s demonetisation drive even as the Mamata Banerjee government has decided to foil it. Urging the party workers to hit the streets Monday, CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra on Sunday made it clear that the party would put up a resistance if the state government attempts to foil it.

“We have already exempted crucial services such as banking and ambulance from the bandh. Our objective is not to make the bandh successful but to make our demands heard. People are suffering due to the Centre’s demonetisation drive and man days have been lost due to the currency crisis. If the state government tries to foil the strike, our workers will resist such attempts,” Mr Mishra said.

He also informed that they were forced to change the route of their rally as ruling Trinamul Congress has decided to take out a march in the same route. The Congress too would take out a rally against the Centre’s demonetisation drive. However, the party is not supporting the Left’s call to observe a strike. The BJP on the other hand has decided to remain on the street to foil the bandh. As a result, the city will witness four rallies by four major political parties on the first working day of the week.

Meanwhile, all government offices will remain open on Monday with employees told to report to work. No leave will be granted not only for the day of the bandh but also the following day.

State chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee said that the DMs and SPs of all districts have been given instructions to take measures to ensure that normal life was not disturbed on Monday.

“Violation of law and order will be tolerated. If somebody tries to enforce bandh in any establishment or office, the police will take strong action,” Mr Banerjee said. State transport minister Suvendu Adhikari informed that the state government would deploy 2,600 government buses on the road and 100 vessels in rivers.  More than 3000 police personnel would be deployed.