Stir has partial impact in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh

Chandigarh, September 2

Public transport services were partially affected in Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh as workers’ unions today joined the one-day nationwide strike call given by ten Central trade unions, protesting against changes in labour laws.

Bank customers faced inconvenience as employees of public sector banks, excluding the SBI, went on strike today.

In Punjab, several employees of Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) also held protest at various places in the state, agitating against vacant posts and outsourcing policies of the state government.

The impact of one-day strike in Ludhiana, the industrial hub of Punjab was also visible as workers owing allegiance to various trade unions took out protest rallies in the city.

Industrialists said though factories remained opened, the attendance of labour in the units was thin, which could impact overall industrial production.

Public transport at several places in Haryana was affected as employees of the Haryana Roadways also went on strike.

Under the banner of the Haryana Roadways Employees’ Union, protesting employees even held rallies and demonstration at various places in the state.

Sarbat Punia, a representative of the Haryana Roadways Employees’ Union yesterday said that about 4,000 buses would remain off the road today.

A report from Hisar said a large number of passengers were stranded in Hisar, Hansi, Uklana, Barwala, Adampur and other bus stands as the vehicles remained off the road.

Commuters had to face a lot of difficulties, though private buses plied as usual, the report said.

However, shops, markets and commercial complexes in Chandigarh were open. Strike had a partial impact as employees of the Chandigarh Transport were on strike, though taxis and auto-rickshaws were plying in the Union Territory.

However, electricity supply remained normal in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, though a large number of employees of electricity departments are participating in the strike.

Meanwhile, the shutdown called by trade unions in Himachal hit the commuters most as over 2,000 state roadways buses went off road.

However, the state government offices and educational institutions were functioning normally and there was no report of violence anywhere in the state.

The impact of the shutdown was more in major towns like Shimla, Rampur, Theog, Solan, Mandi, Nahan, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Dharamsala, Palampur, Kangra, Kullu and Manali as private bus operators also joined the protest.

An official of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation said more than 250 inter-state routes were badly hit due to the strike.

Meanwhile, banking services in public sector banks in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh were hit because of strike. However, private sector banks remained opened.

Bank unions such as AIBEA, AIBOA, BEFI, INBOC, NOBW, INBEF and NOBO are participating in the strike, said Punjab Bank Employees Federation, Secretary Naresh Gaur. — PTI/IANS