Opposition Congress sponsored 24-hour shutdown in three of Tripura’s eight districts evoked lukewarm response on Monday. Around 300 Congress workers including Tripura Pradesh Congress Chief Birjit Sinha were detained.
The Congress called the shutdown in support of their 16-points demand, which included cancellation of Agnipath scheme, punishments to those people who attacked the opposition party workers, and providing Mudra loan to unemployed youths.
Congress called the 24-hour strike in Unakoti, Dhalai and North Tripura District.
In most places of the three northern Tripura districts, normal life was not affected largely, a police officer said.
Few untoward incidents were reported in Unakoti district. Two persons have been arrested in Kailashahar in Unakoti district for thrashing a woman and his son.
Congress leaders, meanwhile, claimed that the shutdown was successful and people responded spontaneously against the “BJP government’s mis-governance”.
Commenting on the strike, TPCC chief Birjit Sinha claimed today’s strike in all three districts of northern Tripura was a ‘total success and it was a firm show of no-confidence against the anti-people policies of the BJP government’.
According to reports, the strike had some impact in Kailashahar – the home town of Birjit Sinha – was noticed. Led by Sinha Congress held a rally and supporters were picketing in support of the bandh.
However, normal life almost remained unaffected in Dhalai and North Tripura districts. Schools, colleges, offices, and shops remained open with normal vehicle movement on the road in Dharmanagar. Vehicular movement through Churaibari Gate – the entry/exit point to Tripura – was normal.
The strike did not have any noticeable impact on normal life in Dhalai district as vehicles ran on roads and offices, markets, shops etc also remained functional and open.
Congress activists in Gandachhera under the district alleged, people wanted to participate in the Strike, however, ‘bike-bahini’ of BJP terrorized people.
