Tripura: Trade union claims BJP workers vandalised office during 'Bharat bandh'

Agartala: A partial impact on the Bharat bandh called by the 10 trade unions was felt across the state since morning as most of the office, banks and shops remained closed on Thursday.

Speaking with reporters, Manik Dey, state president, Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said, “People have supported the Bharat Bandh across the state. We did not have to do any picketing. The ruling party leaders have threatened people to open their shops and office, yet people have supported our strike.”

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He also alleged the Tripura CITU head office was attacked and vandalised by the BJP supporters.

“BJP is scared of losing their hold in state politics and therefore they have resorted to such activities. We did not do any picketing in support of the Bandh. We have left upon the people to support the matter”, Dey said.

Speaking further, he said that the BJP supporters have pelted stones and damaged several bikes of the CITU workers, sign boards of the office.

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“We would take up the matter in the centre level and all the 10 trade unions will be appraised about the situation here. This is the level of the democratic right for the people left in state”, Dey added.

Ten trade unions including the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC) and Self-Employed Women”s Association (SEWA) are part of the strike.

The trade unions have called the strike placing a list of demands which include, rural employment guarantee scheme 200 days work, rollback of new farm laws and governments ‘anti-labour policies’. The unions also demand Rs 7,500 per month for all non-income tax paying families and 10 kg of free ratio per person to the needy families among others.

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The ruling BJP-MLA Ram Prasad Paul said that people have not accepted the Bharat Bandh called by the left-wing trade unions.

“Buses, autos and public transports have continued as usual, shops and establishments also remain open. The CPIM cadres have tried to forcefully make the bandh successful. However, people have spontaneously rejected their bandh”, Paul said.

Sadar Sub-divisional police officer, Chiranjb Chakraborty said that sufficient security arrangements have been deployed in front of the CITU office and the law and order situation is being maintained.

“We received information of an attack over a CITU office and accordingly an arrangement of security forces was made. We are yet to receive any complaint from them”, Chakraborty said.