Maharashtra bandh today UPDATES: BEST bus services shut in Mumbai after stone-pelting; shops, other commercial establishments closed

KEY STORY

•  The three partners in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government – Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress – are observing ‘Maharashtra bandh’ today (11 October 2021) to register their protest over the killings of four farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3.

• The MVA allies have urged people to fully support today’s statewide bandh, which began at midnight on October 11. Notably, there will be no disruption in essential services during the shutdown. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that his party’s workers and leaders will observe maun vrat outside the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai to show solidarity with farmers.

  Mumbai bandh news

  • In the wake of the Maharashtra bandh, bus services in Mumbai and neighbouring areas were disrupted today.

  • The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses and ‘black-yellow cabs’ were both off the streets, so commuters had to travel by local trains, which were operating normally. “The black-yellow taxis are operating, but their number is very less. The taxi operations outside the city airport are unaffected,” said AL Quadros, the general secretary of the Mumbai Taximens’ Union.

  • There were incidents of stone-pelting at some locations in Mumbai.

  • According to BEST, the transport undertaking of city civic body, nine buses were damaged early this morning in areas such as Dharavi, Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar, Charkop, Oshiwara, Deonar and near Inorbit Mall. “The BEST administration has called for police protection and buses will be operated from all depots after reviewing the situation,” the statement said.

  • All shops and other commercial establishments in Mumbai were closed in the morning, aside from ones that sell essential items.

  • “There are reports about stone-pelting at some places, which is not right. No one should indulge in such activities… We demand the resignation/termination of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra,” said Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik. He added that the MVA’s call for bandh today has received support from the Left, some other parties and trade unions. “The bandh is being observed peacefully across Maharashtra with widespread public support,” claimed Malik in Mumbai.

  • While BEST bus services suffered a significant setback during the bandh, local trains, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, continued to run normally, but were jam-packed.

  • The Metro rail service in the city is functioning normally.

  • The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) confirmed that all bus operations from Mumbai to other places followed the schedule. “Regional offices across the state have been informed to operate bus services in consultation with the district administration concerned and police after taking stock of the local situation,” an MSRTC official said.

  • Following the bandh, heavy police deployments were seen across the state capital. In every part of the city, police personnel, including women, are patrolling. Police deployed extra traffic enforcement on city roads, where people were mostly travelling in private vehicles. Senior police officials have been seen visiting the ‘bandobast’ points.

  • There was also an enhanced police presence at railway stations.

  • Shiv Sena activists staged a blockade at Chembur.

  • Mumbai’s Hindmata, Dadar, Lalbaug and Parel markets are closed.

  • The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) in Maharashtra has extended support to the bandh after opposing it earlier. “Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association after a request of Shivsena and other party leaders have decided to keep shop close till 4 pm in support of bandh call by Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in protest of the killing of farmers,” said FRTWA president Viren Shah.

  Pune bandh today

  • Several trade associations in Pune have backed the Maharashtra bandh. The Maharashtra Police detained Shiv Sena workers in Kolhapur as they blocked a national highway between Pune and Bengaluru.

  • According to Fattechand Ranka, president of the Federation of Trade Association of Pune (FTAP), all shops will remain closed until 3 pm on Monday.

  • The traders, who deal in fruits, vegetables, flowers, grains, onions, potatoes, etc., will support the bandh to show their support for farmers, said Rohan Ursal, the secretary of Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Association (Traders Association).

  • Maharashtra’s second-largest city, Pune, is also likely to be hit by transport disruptions as rickshaw unions have decided not to operate their vehicles during the shutdown.

  Maharashtra bandh: BJP opposes

  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nitesh Rane warned the state government against closing shops forcibly.

  Taking to Twitter, Rane on Sunday posted, “If shopkeepers are ‘forced’ to close shops Tomorrow by any of the MVA karyakartas..then they will have to face BJP karyakartas! Police should ensure no one is forced or else there will be a law n order situation which is not our responsibility”

  Lok Sabha MP and BJP leader Manoj Kotak blasted the MVA government for calling the Maharashtra bandh.

  In a statement, Kotak said: “Molestation of women is at peak, state farmer suicides on a shameful rise. But it couldn’t move MVA Govt’s sensibility. Citizens are still being half treated by them. The drama of State Bandh by MVA is a mockery of the pain of victimised citizens of Maharashtra.”