Shops Shut, Roads Deserted and Long Queues Outside Mumbai Stations as Maharashtra Calls for Bandh Today | In Pics
Mumbai Police has said that strict patrolling will be held in view of statewide bandh.
The three partners in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra have appealed to the people to wholeheartedly support Monday’s state-wide bandh called by them to protest the killing of four farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri. The shutdown has been called by the ruling allies – Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress. “The state-wide bandh will commence from 12 midnight,” NCP spokesman and state minister Nawab Malik said on Sunday. The workers of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress are meeting citizens with an appeal to participate in the bandh wholeheartedly and express their solidarity with farmers, he said.
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.
Transport is also likely to be hit in Maharashtra's second largest city as rickshaw unions have decided to not ply their vehicles during the duration of the shutdown on Monday.
Over 2,000 traders dealing in fruits, vegetables, flowers, grains, onions and potatoes etc will support the bandh to show solidarity with farmers who play an all-important role in their sector.
As Maharashtra has called for Bandh today, there is less traffic on the roads in Mumbai. Though local trains are running smoothly, there are fewer BEST buses on roads.
Mumbai Police said that local trains are operating on their regular schedule. Essential services are also functional as usual, it added.
The Federation of Trade Association of Pune (FTAP) president Fattechand Ranka said all shops, except those dealing in essential items, will remain closed till 3 pm on Monday.
The picture from Deonar Bus Depot in Mumbai shows buses parked at the depot as transport remains hit in the city.
