Nationwide Strike in Tripura Draws Limited Response
Agartala, Feb 12: The nationwide strike called by various trade unions witnessed a limited response in Tripura, with normal life mostly continuing across the state. While vehicular movement on major roads was lighter than usual, shops and business establishments remained open in most areas.
Markets functioned throughout the day, although customer turnout was lower compared to regular days. Even as the strike was peaceful with no incident of violence reported except one at Jirania in the West Tripura in which Babul Debnath, a local DYFI leader was injured during a scuffle with alleged BJP activists while picketing.
Trade Unions Claim Success
Left-backed trade union leaders described the strike as successful, claiming that people extended moral support by limiting their outdoor activities. The protest was organised against the Centre’s four new labour codes and the newly introduced Electricity Bill.
CITU General Secretary Sankar Prasad Datta said that rallies were held at 41 locations across the state in support of the strike. He also informed that railway tracks were blocked at Jirania, Nalakata and Manu. However, police quickly intervened and cleared the blockades, restoring train services.
Arrests Reported Across Districts
Datta alleged that several protesters were arrested during the agitation. In Kadamtala under North Tripura district, 97 picketers were detained, including local MLA Islamuddin. Former MLA Amitabha Datta was also taken into custody.
In Khowai district, police arrested 245 protesters, among them MLA Nirmal Biswas. Additionally, 45 people were detained in Kathalia under Sepahijala district, Datta added.
Transport Services Partially Affected
According to union leaders, public transport services were impacted due to low passenger turnout. Datta claimed that 70 to 80 percent of small passenger vehicles and nearly 90 percent of larger transport vehicles could not operate at normal capacity. He further alleged that some markets initially remained closed but reopened later in the day under pressure from the ruling BJP.
CITU state president Manik Dey said that this was the first time since 2018 that a significant section of people stayed indoors in support of a strike. He reiterated that the protest aimed to oppose the Electricity Bill and the implementation of the new labour codes.
CM Terms Strike ‘Outdated Politics’
Reacting to the strike, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said that the culture of strikes has become outdated in Tripura. He stated that shutdowns adversely affect daily wage earners and working people who depend on their daily income. “I have not seen any major impact of the strike. Normal life remained largely unaffected,” he said.
He also remarked that prolonged strikes in the past had contributed to the closure of several industries in the state.
BJP State president Rajib Bhattacharjee congratulated people for ‘rejecting’ the Bandh and slammed the CPIM.
Opposition Leaders Join Rally
Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury participated in a rally in Agartala, urging people to support the strike. Rallies at multiple places across the State were held in support of the Bandh.