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Bharat bandh: For whose sake?
Monday’s opposition-sponsored shutdown hit those very people in whose name it was called. HT team finds out in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Paramjeet Singh
Auto driver, Delhi
He ferries 40-50 passengers each day but Monday was different. “I have been out since 8 am but have managed to find only 10 passengers so far,” he said. A resident of Krishna Nagar, Singh did not face any blockades during the day. “Everything was peaceful but I will take home just Rs 150 today (against Rs 450 on average),” he added. “At the end of the day, we are taking home less than we do,” he said.
Naresh Pandit
Daily wage labourer, Delhi
The daily wage labourer, who is currently employed at the Connaught Place restoration work site, was working on the day of the bandh just as he does on all other days.
“Suna toh tha ki bandh hai par agar hum kaam nahi karenge toh khayenge kya?” he said. (I had heard about the bandh but if I don’t work, what will I eat?) Pandit supports the protest but not the way it was carried out.
Pawan Yadav
Porter, Sealdah station, Kolkata
It was a bad day for Yadav, a porter for the past 25 years at Sealdah station. Yadav earns his livelihood on the platforms of the station. Monday deprived him of his meagre income.
“I manage to earn a maximum of Rs 100 a day. Today, only four trains arrived at the station before 6 in the morning. Even those were almost empty. I got one passenger in the Darjeeling Mail. I earned just Rs 25.”
Ganesh Sen
Taxi driver, Kolkata
He was dozing in his cab at four in the afternoon, peak hours for his trade on a normal day. He was waiting for hospital-bound patients as none else would be allowed a ride during bandhs. This has been the diktat of CITU.
“I didn’t get a single passenger. I manage to earn about Rs 500 a day, but today seems to be tough,” said Sen. “The day is likely to end totally barren for me,” he added.
Shweta Ghag
Government employee, Mumbai
She did not step out of her home. “Why take risk when you know that political parties are out there to create trouble,” said the government employee, who ensured that her husband and two children too stayed indoors. Ghag was irked that the milkman did not deliver milk. “Thankfully I had stocked up on vegetables,” she said. “Already vegetable prices are so high and such bandhs only make life more difficult.”
Prashant Mali
President, Cyber Law Consulting, Mumbai
Mali has a law-consulting firm with 20 employees. The attendance was poor and while coming to office “we saw state transport buses broken near the station and roads were deserted”. Even though the sessions court was open, due to poor attendance and everyone fearing that the means of transportation would collapse, “we went home early”. “I had to cancel my meetings at office and delay some personal work.”
Karan Wadhawa
Shop-owner, Delhi
Opening his shop after lunch hours did not prove to be a good idea for Karan, who owns a handicrafts shop in Janpath. “I have not had even one customer. I have suffered a massive loss,” he said. Wadhawa was forced to shut his shop again later due to BJP workers protesting.
“The price rise needs to be controlled. I just wish the bandh was voluntary and more peaceful,” he said.
Mohammad Sabir
Tea stall owner, Delhi
“What good will sitting at home do me?” said Mohammad Sabir, who owns a tea stall in Connaught Place and was working as usual. Sabir, who lives in Paharganj, faced no problem coming to work. “What is the use of the bandh? How will it help me? The sales at my stall dropped by half,” said Sabir. Sabir didn’t know why the bandh had been organised. “All my friends are working. There is no bandh for us,” he added.
