Picture : Twitter / ANI
Bus services were affected in Mumbai and neighbouring areas and most of the shops and commercial establishments remained closed in the wake of the bandh called across Maharashtra. Streets wore a deserted look after the bandh call
The Congress-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance has called for a bandh in Maharashtra today to protest the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that claimed the lives of 8 people including 4 farmers
The bandh is to protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh. MVA’s call for bandh today against killings in Lakhimpur Kheri (in UP) has received support from Left & some other parties and trade unions. The bandh is being observed peacefully across Maharashtra with widespread public support, State Minister & NCP leader Nawab Malik in Mumbai to ANI.
Maharashtra: Maha Vikas Aghadi that comprises of Congress, Shiv Sena, and NCP has called for a statewide bandh today in protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that claimed the lives of 8 people including 4 farmers
Visuals from Bandra Reclamation area in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/57yOFikZLv
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2021
As buses of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST- the transport undertaking of the city civic body) and many of the traditional ‘black-yellow cabs’ remained off roads, there were huge crowds on suburban railway stations to commute by local trains, which were running as per schedule.
The BEST said eight of its buses were vandalised in different areas of Mumbai between midnight and 8 am today and has now sought police protection.
The wholesale APMC market remained closed in Pune in support of the bandh. “The traders of the market had decided to observe the bandh and informed the farmers in advance,” says market administrator Madhukant Garad.
The three ruling allies – Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, have appealed to people to wholeheartedly support the bandh, which began at midnight, to express their solidarity with farmers.
Maharashtra: APMC market closed in Pune in support of bandh call given by Maha Vikas Aghadi over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence
“The traders of the market had decided to observe the bandh and informed the farmers in advance,” says market administrator Madhukant Garad pic.twitter.com/PC8fdpyEE8
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2021
In the morning, shops and other commercial establishments, barring those engaged in selling essential items, remained closed in Mumbai.
While the BEST bus services were affected in the wake of the bandh, the local trains, considered as the lifeline of Mumbai, were operating normally, but running packed as road commuters shifted to suburban rail services. “Our services are running as per schedule,” Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer of the Central Railway, told PTI.
Most of the black-yellow cabs and auto-rickshaws were off roads in the metropolis, as per transport union leaders.
“The black-yellow taxis are operating, but their number is very less. The taxi operations outside the city airport are unaffected,” said A L Quadros, general secretary of the Mumbai Taximens’ Union.
The Metro rail services were also operating normally in the city. Officials of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) said their buses from Mumbai to other places were plying as per schedule and no untoward incident was reported anywhere.
“Regional offices across the state have been informed to operate bus services in consultation with the district administration concerned and police after taking stock of the local situation,” an MSRTC official said.
There was heavy police deployment across the state capital in the wake of the bandh.
