Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in the end become the major obstacle for BJP's passionate attempt to stall West Bengal on the "bandh day".
Special direction had come to various central government' offices in Kolkata from Delhi in which it was stated that all offices would have to be kept open on September 26. Eastern railways ran train services and airlines were operative, with which Modi government made a clear distinction between governance and politics. As a result of that, the dawn to dusk bandh called by BJP today was not fully supported by the central government.
Kolkata port, railways, airport, central government offices and public sector undertakings remained open. However, employees' attendance have been very low despite the fact that those offices were kept open.
The bandh, however, could not be called a total failure as BJP in the state was able to make it a success largely in rural areas. Kolkata, unlike rural Bengal, remained largely peaceful with shops and establishments remaining open except for in a few locations. Public transport and private transport plied on the road but footfalls on the street was very low. BJP workers tried to halt trains by making blockade or throwing banana leaves on the tracks. But despite that, the trains moved on, as did buses and taxis.
Attendance at state government offices was at 95 per cent, while central government offices were mostly devoid of employees. Many private schools declared Wednesday as a holiday for the benefit of those who did not own any private mode of transport. Certain institutions remained open, but, BJP workers did not try to close them down. Sate government offices had expressly told employees that if they fail to turn up in offices on bandh day, they would have to face consequences. So, many employees spent the night in offices fearing reprisal.
In North Bengal, the bandh had a huge impact. It was here that two youths were shot dead on September 20, allegedly due to police firing, which gave BJP a reason to protest and thereafter a call for a state-wide bandh. Islampur at North Dinajpur, where the incident took place over recruitment of a Urdu teacher in a school, saw violent clashes between BJP and Trinamool Congress workers. Several buses and other mode of public and private transports were torched by the BJP workers. Several BJP workers were arrested by the police.
In Siliguri, South and North Dinajpur, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurdooar, BJP managed to get huge support on bandh day as most of the people refused to open their shops or come out on the streets.
In South Bengal too, especially in Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, BJP workers led a massive rampage and force-shut many establishments. In many areas, they were confronted with the Trinamool Congress as well. In Jhargram, Purulia and Bankura, few BJP offices were ransacked and couple of them were burnt.
Mamata Banerjee, who is currently in Milan, Italy, said she would take tough action on those who vandalised public property.
"I have already passed a law regarding that earlier in West Bengal assembly. Now on my return I will implement that," said Mamata in a statement.
Dilip Ghosh, State BJP President, said that his party did not plan to turn the bandh a violent one and instead wanted to see people's spontaneous reaction against the TMC government.
"But yes, where Trinamool Congress rowdies or police attacked us, we gave them befitting reply," said Ghosh. He avoided commenting on a clear snub from the central government.
