Bharat Bandh LIVE: Yechury attacks PM over Reliance Jio 4G ads; CPI (M) says Kejriwal competing with Modi

New Delhi: The nationwide day-long strike on Friday by Left-affiliated trade unions against the BJP-led central government's "anti-labour" policies affected normal life in several states, including West Bengal, Karnataka and Communist-ruled Kerala and Tripura, but saw minimal effect in the national capital and Mumbai.

02 September 2016

15:29 IST

Cracking the whip, the Delhi government invoked the stringent ESMA declaring as illegal the nurses' stir which has severely affected the functioning of state-run hospitals at a time when the city was grappling with rising cases of dengue and chikungunya.

Reacting to the development CPI (M) tweeted:

.@ArvindKejriwal ignored nurses plight & when they use last resort of strike invoked ESMA against them, competing with Modi govt! Shame!

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) September 2, 2016

15:25 IST

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury hits out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "PM busy endorsing private telecom co., his govt to waive off bank loans of real estate firms, but no money for workers?"

13:55 IST

Odisha: Train services were affected as trade union activists staged rail roko by holding sit-in on tracks at many places including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jaleswar, Keonjhargarh and Rayagada.

11:55 IST

Sitaram Yechury explains as to why the nationwide strike was needed.

Universal social security cover #RightsNotCharity #Workers #Livelihood #Lives #Dignity pic.twitter.com/StKJf6IN50

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) September 2, 2016

Why is regular work done by Contract employees, who are paid a pittance? Workers should get their Rights,not charity pic.twitter.com/yr4C41Kkzt

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) September 2, 2016

Why is there a ceiling on Bonus, PF and Gratuity, when no limits on Profits? #AllIndiaStrike #Workers #Rights pic.twitter.com/b2ffcIsUPq

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) September 2, 2016

Minimum Wages for all Workers organised and unorganised must be at least ₹18,000 per month. #AllIndiaStrike #Today pic.twitter.com/ZfxWVldsse

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) September 2, 2016

11:40 IST

Telangana badly affected due to the strike. Banking operations came to standstill in Telangana as over 15,000 employees of various banks participated in the general strike called by trade unions to protest government's "anti-labour policies".

11:19 IST

It was business as usual for public transport in Mumbai despite one-day nationwide strike call given by central trade unions, while it evoked a mixed response in rural Maharashtra.

10:57 IST

Delhi Nurses Union protest outside Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi.

10:56 IST

Trinamool Congress, Left party members clash in Bengal's Madhyamgram.

10:48 IST

The bus services have gone on strike in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal and Gwalior.

10:46 IST

10:40 IST

CPIM (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechuray takes a dig at Modi regime says, "The Government promised 2 crore new jobs per year, but unemployment is rising. Urban unemployment rate stands at 11.24 percent."

Today's #AllIndiaStrike is for workers (organised and unorganised), farmers, unemployed and for each one of us. pic.twitter.com/G2euRRomBP

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) September 2, 2016

10:36 IST

CITU general secretary Tapan Kumar Sen says: "The strike is on. We are getting good response. More information will pour in after sometime. Around 90 per cent workers at BHEL's plant in Tiruchirapalli have not reported at work in the morning shift."

"Vizag steel plant is 100 percent closed. At some places there would be instances of 'Rail Roko'. This is going to be a successful strike as more than 15 crore workers will come on streets to protest."

10:01 IST

West Bengal: Siliguri Municipal Corporation Mayor Ashok Bhattacharya arrested along with 15 other protesters.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says Bengal will not be stopped by bandhs.

"The bandh will be a total failure. We are monitoring the situation. We appeal to everyone to defeat the strike," Banerjee says.

10:00 IST

Uttar Pradesh Roadways employees' strike disrupts normal life. Passengers left stranded.

10:00 IST

Odisha too faces the brunt of strike called by the trade unions.

09:58 IST

As a precautionary measure,the schools and colleges in Bengaluru have been closed for today. Bus stand across Benagluru bore a deserted look.

BMTC buses not plying on roads, remain parked at Banashankari.

09:57 IST

Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh confirms that it is not taking part in the strike.

09:57 IST

Passengers face a harrowing time as buses are not plying from the inter state bus stand in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

09:56 IST

Protesters vandalise a NBSTC bus in Cooch Behar district in West Bengal.

09:56 IST

The 10 central trade unions (CTUs) are observing 'Bharat Bandh' to express their disagreement with the Central government`s "unilateral labour reforms and anti-worker policies".

Banking, public transport and telecom are expected to be worst hit during the strike.

The CTUs will strike work protesting against what they call the government`s apathy towards their 12-point charter of demands including a monthly minimum wage of Rs. 18,000, controlling price rise and assured minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000.

However, Indian Railways and other central government employees will not participate in strike as government has already constituted a committee to look into their demand of raising monthly minimum wage from Rs 18,000 to about Rs. 26,000 under the 7th Pay Commission.