By IANS,
New Delhi: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said Tuesday’s nationwide shutdown to denounce soaring food prices elicited “a big response”, showing “the anger and discontent among the people” vis-a-vis the government.
The party said in a statement here that there was a “complete hartal” in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Kerala and Tripura in response to an appeal from 13 political parties including the Left Front.
“In Andhra Pradesh, there was a successful bandh all over the state with the strike being partial in Hyderabad. In Tamil Nadu too, there was a hartal all over the state with Chennai having a partial strike,” it said.
The statement said there was total stoppage of work and movement of traffic in West Bengal, which is ruled by the Left Front.
In Uttar Pradesh, markets were closed in all cities and towns while rail and road traffic were affected in many places, it said.
In Bihar, the party said, “there was a total hartal in all the districts. Rail and road traffic were disrupted. Markets, commercial establishments and educational institutions remained closed.
“In Jharkhand, markets were closed and rail and road traffic came to a halt.
Several state government offices remained closed.
“In Orissa, all central government offices, central public sector undertakings, banks, railways were paralysed. State government offices in many districts were also closed. Road and railway traffic was paralysed.
“In Kerala, all shops and commercial establishments remained closed. Road and rail traffic were paralysed. In major cities and towns, LDF (Left Democratic Front) workers held demonstrations.
“In Tripura, there was a complete strike with all offices, markets and educational institutions being closed. All vehicular traffic came to a halt.”
The CPI-M said the protests also affected life in varying degrees in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Delhi and its neighbourhoods Ghaziabad, and Noida.