Mumbai’s public transport, bank services won’t be hit by Bharat Bandh; APMCs in state to be shut

Several farmers’ organisations, agricultural markets across Maharashtra and in Mumbai will be shut on Tuesday for the one-day Bharat Bandh.

Several farmers’ organisations, agricultural markets across Maharashtra and in Mumbai will be shut on Tuesday for the one-day Bharat Bandh.

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has readied its fleet with grills to protect the window and windscreen, as a precautionary measure, and will continue to provide services on Tuesday. (HT)

However, the daily life of people will not be disrupted as public transport — including autos and taxis — banking services will remain unaffected. Shops, malls and petrol pumps, too, will remain open.

Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vashi, Nashik, Solapur, Lasalgaon, Dhule, Sakri, and Pimpalner will stay shut. “All operations at the APMC in Vashi, including supplies of perishable commodities, will remain closed in support of the Bharat Bandh,” said, Rajendra Shelke, director, Navi Mumbai APMC.

Sanjay Pansare, the chairperson of fruits and vegetables traders’ association, said, “Operations will be shut tomorrow. Most traders are also farmers so they understand the cause. The market committee association has asked all APMCs to remain shut. All the markets in Nashik district are going to extend support and remain shut. Pune APMC will remain operational because they had a bandh earlier.”

Nashik APMC and Vashi APMC provide a substantial quantity of fruits and vegetables for retailers in Mumbai. However, Pansare said the stock and supply will not be affected in a one-day bandh. The Mathadi workers body led by Narendra Patil has extended support to the bandh.

Meanwhile, autorickshaw and taxi unions in the city have not called for a bandh and they will continue to ply. Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has readied its fleet with grills to protect the window and windscreen, as a precautionary measure, and will continue to provide services on Tuesday. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) may suspend bus services on a few “sensitive” routes.

Banking is also expected to remain unaffected as nationalised and private banks and ATM services will remain open. Devidas Tuljapurkar, general secretary of Maharashtra State Bank Employees Federation said, “We will stage protests but banking operations remain open on Tuesday.”

The ruling coalition in Maharashtra —Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congres Party (NCP) and Congress — have backed the farmer’s call for bandh. However, Sena said that people can voluntarily participate in the bandh .

“This is not a political bandh called to get some demands met, but supporting thousands of farmers at the Delhi border for the past 12 days is the duty of all citizens of the country. Therefore, Shiv Sena has appealed to all that people should voluntarily participate in this bandh,” said Sanjay Raut, Sena leader and chief spokesperson

Meanwhile, opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis took on NCP chief Sharad Pawar over the former union agricultural minister’s stance on the “monopoly” of APMC markets. Fadnavis said the Congress-NCP had earlier backed provisions similar to ones in the Centre’s farm laws and accused them of being “two-faced” by opposing the Acts now.

Congress minister Ashok Chavan said the three agri-marketing laws by the Centre must be repealed as it will destroy the farmers and only benefit corporates. “The Congress has opposed this black law in the Parliament and outside. Rahul Gandhi has carried out a tractor yatra in Haryana. The bandh on December 8 is essential to wake up the Central government,” he said in a statement