Nationwide Strike Fails to Gain Traction in Tripura; Normalcy Prevails
The nationwide shutdown called by ten central trade unions on Thursday failed to evoke a significant response in the northeastern state of Tripura. Government offices, banks, educational institutions, and markets remained open across the state, while road transport and train services operated as usual, indicating minimal disruption to daily life.
CPM Leaders Lead Picketing in Agartala
A large group of Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders, led by Jitendra Chaudhury, the leader of opposition in the assembly, and former chief minister Manik Sarkar, picketed at Paradise Chowmuhani in Agartala in the morning. They were demonstrating in support of the bandh, which they claimed was called to safeguard the interests of farmers and labourers.
Chaudhury asserted that people had supported the strike, criticizing the Modi government for allegedly trying to sell the country to the United States while ignoring the working class. He specifically targeted the Indo-US deal, warning that it could destroy the country's farming sector.
Sarkar accused the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of forcing trade unions to call the strike due to its anti-labour policies. He emphasized that this strike was not the end of their movement, vowing to launch massive agitations opposing the Modi government's policies in the future.
Police Report Normalcy and Heightened Vigilance
Police officials confirmed that no untoward incidents had been reported so far. Additional forces were deployed to keep a watch on key locations, including bus stops, railway stations, and markets, to ensure public safety and order.
State police spokesperson Rajdeep Deb stated that the impact of the nationwide strike was not felt in Tripura, as life remained normal with all essential services functioning as usual. This highlights the state's resilience and the limited reach of the strike call in this region.
