Guwahati: The Bharat bandh called by the BJP and other opposition parties to protest the diesel price hike, FDI in multi-brand retail and cap in subsidised LPG affected normal life in Assam. Markets, shops, educational institutions, banks and private offices remained closed, while long distance private buses and other vehicles were off the roads, officials said.
Though privately operated city buses did not ply, the government-run ones were seen on the road with auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws ferrying passengers. Trains and air services also operated normally, they said.
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place with security personnel deployed on the city streets, highways, at vital installations and vulnerable areas across the state, they said. All the state government offices, including transport and power, were functioning normally.
The government had issued a notification on Wednesday to ensure normal functioning and attendance in all government offices and undertakings in the state in view of the nation-wide bandh on Thursday.
The notification warned that the government would resort to pay-cut, break in service and disciplinary action against employees who absent themselves from duties during the bandh period. All heads of offices and departments were further instructed to deduct pay and allowances for unauthorised absence from offices and duties on Thursday and to initiate disciplinary action for such unauthorised absence.
In Guwahati, BJP national vice president Bijoya Chakraborty along with her party supporters was out on the main thoroughfares requesting the people to ensure success of the bandh. The Guwahati MP urged the motorists not to ply their vehicles as the causes for the bandh affected them as well as the common people.
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