Pulwama attack: Bharat bandh hits business worth Rs 25,000 cr, says CAIT

According to CAIT, the day-long bandh saw seven crore business establishments remain closed across the country, including Delhi.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Monday said that business worth about Rs 25,000 crore was hit due to the "Bharat Trade Bandh" that was called to protest against the recent Pulwama terror attack.

According to CAIT, the day-long bandh saw seven crore business establishments remain closed across the country, including Delhi.

"Business of about Rs 25,000 crore was hit due to today's 'Bharat Trade Bandh'," the confederation said in a statement.

"In the wake of tremendous and spontaneous voluntary response from traders across the country, the CAIT has decided to create a Special Relief Fund exclusively for the welfare of the forces," it said.

ALSO READ: Pulwama attack: How a Paris blacklisting may destroy Pakistan economically

In the worst-ever terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since militancy erupted in 1989, a suicide bomber on Thursday rammed his SUV packed with explosives into a CRPF bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Pulwama district, killing as many as 40 troopers and leaving many injured.

Business Standard

No end to Mumbai commuters' woes as BEST bus strike enters the third day

BEST bus service is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.

There seems to be no end to woes of lakhs of commuters in Mumbai as an indefinite strike by employees of the city's civic transport undertaking continued for the third day Thursday.

Not a single bus of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) plied on Mumbai roads since morning, an official said.

Commuters complained that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were charging much more than normal rates. Some harried commuters also appealed to the Maharashtra government to take necessary steps to end the protest.

A senior BEST official expressed hope of the stalemate getting resolved soon.

Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on an indefinite strike since Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries and merger of the budget of the loss-making undertaking with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The state government had moved quickly to invoke the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the striking BEST employees, while its management asked them to end the stir and come to the negotiating table.

ALSO READ: Ordeal continues for Mumbai commuters as BEST strike enters second day

The BEST administration had on Wednesday cracked the whip, issuing notices to over 2,000 staffers to vacate houses provided by the undertaking. It also held dialogue with BEST workers' union leader Shashank Rao, but it did not yield a positive outcome.

Despite the Shiv Sena-affiliated union, BEST Kamgar Sena, withdrawing from the protest, only 11 buses plied on the roads on Wednesday, an official said.

Ashish Chemburkar, the chairman of the BEST committee that handles the day-to-day affairs of the undertaking, said they were going to hold meetings with representatives of the protesting staffers on Thursday.

"We are hopeful of arriving at a concrete solution today. Everyone wants an end to this deadlock for the sake of Mumbaikars," Chemburkar told PTI.

Another official said BEST's general manager was expected to hold meetings with union leader Rao, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who party rules the BMC, is also likely to intervene in the matter, he said.

Passengers continued to face inconvenience and some complained that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were trying to fleece them.

Vinod Dubey, who travels from suburban Andheri to Versova daily by BEST bus, said, "The auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are charging two to three times more than normal rates, and if we refuse to pay that amount, they are denying us the ride. This exploitation must be stopped."

Business Standard

Ordeal continues for Mumbai commuters as BEST strike enters second day

It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.

BEST Strike : Lakhs of commuters in Mumbai continued to face hardships on Wednesday as an indefinite strike called by the BEST, the city's civic transport undertaking, entered its second day.

Despite the Shiv Sena-affiliated union withdrawing from the protest, only five buses of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), were plying on roads this morning, a BEST official said.

Over 32,000 BEST employees went on an indefinite strike on Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries.

The state government quickly moved to invoke the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the striking BEST employees, while its management asked them to end the stir and come to the negotiating table.

BEST's Kamgar Sena had late Tuesday evening said that 11,000 of its members would go back to work on Wednesday to mitigate woes of Mumbaikars.

It had also said that nearly 500 buses were expected to run on Wednesday.

The Sena union's announcement to withdraw from the protest invited sharp criticism from BEST Workers' Union chief Shashank Rao who said the former had shown its "true character".

ALSO READ: Bharat bandh: Banking ops hit; buses remain off road in Goa, WB; 10 updates

The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses, which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai.

It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.

"However, only five buses were plying on the city roads on Wednesday morning," a senior BEST official said.

The employees are demanding higher pay, merging budget of the loss-making transport undertaking with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), deliberations on new wage agreement, resuming appointments on compassionate grounds and a bonus equivalent to that of the civic body's employees.

The protest by BEST employees coincided with the two-day nationwide bank strike called by trade unions to protest the government's "anti-worker" policies and labour reforms.

The strike, declared illegal by the industrial court, on Tuesday affected nearly 25 lakh daily commuters, who rely on BEST buses to reach their destinations.

Business Standard

Bharat Bandh today: Millions of workers, farmers on nationwide strike: 10 updates

The all-India strike is against the Modi government's failure to address rural distress issues, to save rural farmers' lands from the corporates, says protesters.

Bharat Bandh : Millions of workers are on a two-day, nationwide strike today to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's labour policies. Meanwhile, farmers and students from across the country will join the general strike. According to AITUC general secretary Amarjeet Kaur, sectors like banking, education, coal, steel, telecom, health, electricity, insurance and transport, inter alia, are likely to extend support to the strike.

"AIKS and Bhumi Adhikar Andolan will observe 'gramin hartal', rail roko and road roko on January 8 and 9, the day trade unions are observing nationwide general strike. This move is against the Modi government's failure to address rural distress issues, to save rural farmers' lands from the corporates," said Hannan Mollah, general secretary of the CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).

Top 10 developments on 2-day strike by trade union:

1. Who is supporting?

Farmers, 10 central trade unions, student and teacher organisations are supporting the strike. The 10 central trade unions going on strike include Indian the National Trade Union Congress, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Trade Union Coordination Centre, Self Employed Women's Association, All India United Trade Union Centre, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Labour Progressive Federation, and United Trade Union Congress

.

2. Police in Kolkata detains CPM workers protesting in support of a 48-hour nationwide strike called by central trade unions. Their demands include minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

3. In Odisha, members of central trade unions are holding protests and have blocked commuters in Bhubaneswar demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

4. 25 lakh passengers who travel by BEST buses to be affected: Around 29,000 employees of the transport service BEST are also going on an indefinite strike Due to the strike, around 25 lakh passengers, who travel by 3000 BEST buses that ply on streets of Mumbai city and the metropolitan region every day, will be inconvenienced.

Their demands: Renewal of salary agreements that expired in 2016, a hike in gratuity and bonus, merger of BEST and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budgets.

5. Coal India workers' strike may cost Rs 500 cr: Coal India is expected to lose at least 3.6 million tonnes (mt) of production after four central trade unions (CTUs) decided to join the nationwide strike. This comes in the wake of at least 10 power plants in the country facing severe coal shortages at the very beginning of the new calendar year and Coal India boosting its production to meet the demand from power companies.

Business Standard

Petrol inches close to Rs 81 a litre in Delhi after 5th straight price hike

While Opposition parties led by the Congress have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' to protest the rising fuel prices in the country, Left parties have announced a separate shutdown of their own.

Bharat Bandh : Adding to the woes of the common man, petrol and diesel prices were again raised on Monday, a fifth straight day of price hike in as many days by oil marketing companies. In Delhi, petrol continued its upward march in the previously uncharted territory of above the Rs 80 mark -- the price was raised by 23 paise a litre on Monday to Rs 80.73. The price of petrol in Delhi crossed the Rs 80 mark for the first time on Saturday, September 8.

Similarly, petrol prices in Mumbai were raised by 22 paise to Rs 88.12 a litre.

Another key transport fuel, diesel, also witnessed a similar hike of 22 paise in Delhi and 23 paise in Mumbai. Diesel now costs Rs 72.83 a litre and Rs 77.32 in Delhi and Mumbai, respectively.

Opposition parties like the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS), led by the Congress party, have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' to protest the rising fuel prices in the country. Left parties have announced a separate shutdown of their own.

Other parties such as Trinamool Congress, Aam Admi Party and Biju Janata Dal have voiced their concerns over the price hike, however, they have stayed away from the street protests called by the Congress.

Congress leaders Sushil Kumar Shinde, Rajiv Satav and Amit Chavda in a press conference in Ahmedabad said that the Modi government pocketed Rs 11 trillion from the public by raising taxes on fuel and not including petrol and diesel under GST.

"The government has the power to reduce prices. It appears the government lacks coordination with oil companies which has resulted in the rise in prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas on a daily basis," Shinde said.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced a 4 per cent cut in the state value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel on Sunday to reduce their prices by Rs 2.5 per litre in the state. VAT on petrol would be reduced from 30 to 26 per cent and on diesel from 22 to 18 per cent, Raje announced at a public meeting.

Article Source BS

Bharat Bandh against SC/ST Amendment Act, Sec 144 imposed in MP: Updates

The members, belonging to upper caste groups are protesting against Parliament passing an amendment to the SC/ST Act.

High alert has been issued in 35 districts across Madhya Pradesh in view of the ongoing Bharat Bandh against the Parliament passing an amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act that overruled Supreme Court's earlier order of diluting it. Apart from that, 34 companies of security forces and 5,000 security personnel have been deployed. Section 144 has also imposed in several districts across Madhya Pradesh, according to ANI reports.

Police told ANI, ”Forces have been divided judiciously across the districts. It has been peaceful till now. Nobody can force anyone to be a part of the bandh.”

Earlier, the members, belonging to upper caste groups, had forced the government to impose Section 144 in Satna, Bhind, Shivpuri, Gwalior, and other districts.

ALSO READ: Can't exclude creamy layer of SC/ST from quota in promotions: Govt to SC

The March 20 judgment

In a bid to check the misuse of the SC/ST Act, the Supreme Court had on March 20 ruled that preliminary enquiry in a case under the Atrocities Act would be done by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to ensure the allegations are not frivolous, and to avoid the false implication of an innocent person.

The court also held that a government official could not be prosecuted on the mere allegation of committing an offence under the Act without the sanction of the appointing authority.

Here are the top developments of the ongoing protest:

1. Schools and petrol pumps will remain shut today in Gwalior and across districts.

2. Markets are now closed, protesters stop a train in Arrah in Bihar

3. Members taking part in the protest also stop a train in Darbhanga and Munger's Masudan, Bihar.

4. Protests spread to Varanasi as several members take part in the nationwide Bharat Bandh.

5. Protests spread across nation: Shops in Ajmer, Rajasthan shut down. Navghar, Maharashtra too hit.

Article Source BS