Strike brings life to grinding halt in State
HERALD NEWS BUREAU
PANJIM, JULY 5
Life came to a grinding halt in the State on Monday as nearly all shops, establishments, private transport operators and educational institutions suspended services for the day, in response to the opposition-led Bharat Bandh to protest against a hike in fuel prices.
Herald’s team of correspondents visited various parts of the State and reported that the Bandh was near total but by and large largely peaceful, barring a few incidents where miscreants damaged KTC buses and some private vehicles.
Miscreants punctures the tyres of four Kadamba buses and some private buses at the Curchorem KTC bus stand, while minor incidents of stone pelting on Kadamba buses were also reported near the Sessions Court and Karaswada in Mapusa. The windscreen of the Ponda-Vasco KTC bus was also damaged at Borim-Ponda.
Two vehicles, a Kadamba bus and a trailer, were stoned in Bicholim taluka, while a Maharashtra-bound goods carrier truck was also punctured at the Sarvan main road. Stray incidents of burning of tyres were also reported at Baina-Vasco.
Most of the people opted for an extended weekend and preferred to remain indoors, instead of risking any backlash or untoward incidents by miscreants.
Most educational institutions in the State were closed due to poor attendance, while government offices all over the State also wore a deserted look.
Police arrested Shiv Sena State President Upendra Gaonkar and Bicholim Municipal Council Councilor Kamlakar Teli on charges of obstructing traffic at Bicholim. They were later released in the evening.
Police also arrested three Shiv Saina activists in Bardez on charges of forcing shopkeepers to close down their shops.
In another incident, Marcaim Madkaim BJP Block President Prashant Naik was detained on charges of blocking the road at Farmagudi.
CANACONA
Canacona witnessed a near to total Bandh at least in commercial town of Chaudi, even though traffic ran unhindered on all the roads, including the NH-17.
Most of the shops and establishments remained closed in Chaudi and surroundings, while the entire fleet of private buses remained off the road throughout the day in support of the opposition parties demand for reducing fuel prices and State private bus operators demand to increase the fare.
However, Kadamba buses operated normally, transporting only few commuters who came out of their houses.
The Bandh seemed almost a voluntary one, as few shops in local village bazaar areas of villages in Poinguinim, Maxem (Loliem) and elsewhere in the taluka’s interior remained partially closed for major part of the day.
Not much movement of people was seen in the taluka, as the rains lashing the State since early morning seems to have assisted the national bandh call, where except for Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar requesting few shopkeepers in his constituencies Poinguinim bazaar area, there were no efforts from anyone to enforce the Bandh.
Even though no untoward incident was noticed anywhere in the taluka, sources informed that a huge tree was cut and thrown on a culvert at Barcem-Padi, disrupting highway traffic for a short while, before the route was cleared.
All the Café’s, tea stalls, restaurants, besides all other shops and including Bhajji and fish market at Chaudi and surrounding areas remained closed. Few bars and taverns were seen doing brisk business. Few working restaurants at Palolem and Gulem did business as on any normal day in the taluka.
Town schools including higher secondary and a college which commenced as usual in the morning, winded up for the day early before time, due to absence of teachers, while pharmacies, clinics and hospitals functioned as normal.
Sources informed that presence in government offices was almost normal, but some banks kept their shutters half closed and functioned from inside, whereas few ATMs were kept shut since morning fearing incidents of stone throwing.
With almost no transportation plying from talukas interior areas, school-going children seems to have been the most effected with many taking on foot to reach back to their homes situated in town pockets like Kindlem, Ponsulem, Rajbhag, Patnem, Palolem, Mastimoll, Devabhag, Shristhal, etc for want of local internal bus transportation.
Many school buses (Bal Rath) were reportedly not operated for fear of stone throwing incidents.
Police were seen stationed only at some of the main places in the taluka, at Char Rasta, Chaudi, where no untoward incident took place, while even private transportations though plied freely was noticed running only intermittently.
The overall movement of vehicles along the highway plied normally, but was very brisk throughout the day, as except for one ST bus which early morning raced towards Karwar, no more Karnataka buses plied along the highway during the day.
MORMUGAO
Mormugao taluka observed a complete bandh except for some incidents of burning tyres at Baina.
Markets were shut, schools were empty and roads wore a deserted look across Vasco, Mormugao, Sancoale and Cortalim, as major commercial establishments, transporters in Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), tourist taxi operators and Black and Yellow Taxi operators at Dabolim airport remained off the road.
Stray incidents of burning of tyres were reported at Baina and along the NH-17A near Sancoale, but by and large the bandh was peaceful in entire Mormugao taluka.
However, the port town started limping back to normalcy in the evening, as most of the commercial establishments and all major markets resumed its business activities by 6 pm.
The BJP workers along with former Vasco MLA Rajendra Arlekar were seen in Vasco city near Vasco Kadamba shuttle service and urging the people to support their cause.
Interestingly, the Vasco fish market that has rarely observed such political bandhs, was fully cooperative with BJP workers, as they have shut their business since morning.
Addressing the media, State BJP Spokesperson Rajendra Arlekar congratulated the party workers and express gratitude of the people of Mormugao taluka for supporting Bharat Bandh successfully.
“With this bandh, we believe our message has reached to the people about the government inefficiency to control inflation and fuel price hike that has badly affected the entire nation,” said Arlekar.
“BJP expresses its gratitude towards transporters, tourist taxi unions, bus operators, unions of vegetable market, youths and fish community and people of Mormugao taluka for supporting the bandh,” added Arlekar.
When asked whether there was mixed response at Valpoi because of former health minister Vishwajit Rane, he alleged that Rane has used his force and utilized government machinery by forcefully opening commercial establishments to show that bandh has no effect in Valpoi.
CURCHOREM
The twin towns of Curchorem and Sanvordem witnessed a total Bandh, which passed off peaceful, except for some incidents of tyre punctures.
According to sources, tyres of four Kadamba buses and some private buses, which were parked at KTC bus stand, were punctured by some miscreants. Roads were blocked at some places by cutting down trees and throwing them on the road, but Curchorem fire brigade services cleared it.
All the shops and establishments remained closed throughout the day, while the vegetable and fish markets wore a deserted look. Buses remained off the roads as only few KTC buses were seen plying along the road.
Since most of the schools had poor attendance, the schools were closed early for the day. CCMC office, some banks and medical stores functioned normally.
MAPUSA
Mapusa police arrested three Shiv Sainiks on charges of forcing the shopkeepers to close down their shops, even though Mapusa and Porvorim witnessed total Bandh.
Mapusa PI Rajesh Kumar informed that they have arrested three Shiv Sainiks, who were forcing the shopkeepers to close their shops.
Police arrested Shiv Sena (Goa unit) President Upendra Gaonker at Bicholim. The Shiv Sainiks were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First class in the evening and were released on bail.
“We had offered police protection to the establishments, who had requested for it. The police were patrolling along the roads in Bardez to maintain law and order. We were fully geared up to meet any eventuality,” said PI Kumar.
Speaking to Herald, Bardez Mamlatdar Gaurish Shankhwalker said there were some minor incidents of stone pelting on Kadamba buses near the Sessions Court and Karaswada.
“However no one was injured in the incident. Overall, the bandh was peaceful in Bardez,” said Shankhwalker.
Barring one restaurant in Mapusa, all the shops, restaurants, petrol pumps and banks remained closed. All the schools, except government schools, declared holiday due to poor attendance of the students.
The Yellow and Black taxis and auto rickshaws also remained off the roads. However, KTC buses were seen plying on certain routes. The Kadamba bus stand at Mapusa wore a deserted look, as the private buses did not ply.
Since private buses were off the road, people residing in the villages, where KTC buses do not operate, had to face a lot of hardships due to non-availability of transport. Police in large number were deployed at Kadamba bus stand, municipal market, Navtara restaurant and along the main roads of the city.
The BJP protesters sat down on the road near Gandhi Circle at the entrance of the Mapusa city in morning and tried to block the traffic. DySP Sammy Tavares along with the police force rushed to the spot and dispersed the crowd and cleared the road for vehicular traffic.
The BJP protestors also tried to block roads in Siolim by placing stones and tree branches on the road, due to which traffic was disrupted for some time. However, the barricades were removed by the police.
Mapusa PI Rajesh Kumar said they have arrested three Shiv Sainiks, who were forcing the shopkeepers to close their shops.
CALANGUTE
The Bandh also evoked good response from the people in the coastal belt of Calangute.
All shops in Calangute, Arpora, Saligao and Anjuna were shut, while in Candolim except for few shops, other business establishments remained closed. The fish market in Calangute was also closed. However, the essential services functioned normally. Schools in Calangute were also affected due to the Bandh.
Except for a stray incident of felling of a tree to block the road at Saligao, no untoward incident was reported in Calangute.
In Candolim, a roadside well collapsed, posing a threat to motorists and pedestrians. However, it was immediately covered with the help of an excavator.
The worst affected were the tourists, as some wanting to travel to South Goa for hotel accommodation and railway station for their train, were unable to do so due to support of the Taxi Owners for the Bandh. Few taxi owners were however seen plying their taxis.
Calangute police kept a strict vigil on the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, while RTO Mapusa was also seen patrolling the area.
The BJP Calangute unit led by Saligao ZP member Michael Lobo expressed satisfaction over people’ support for the Bandh.
“We went to each and every shop or business establishment and appealed to the people for their support to the bandh to protest against hike in petroleum products. The rise in petroleum products will definitely have the desired effect on prices of essential products, thus making the cost of living of middle class people miserable,” said Lobo.
BICHOLIM
Shiv Sena State President Upendra Gaonkar and Bicholim Municipal Council Councilor Kamlakar Teli were arrested for allegedly obstructing traffic at Bicholim. Both were released later in the evening.
Two vehicles, including a Kadamba bus and a trailer, were stoned at Bicholim and Vhalshim respectively. A Maharashtra-bound goods carrier truck was also punctured at Sarvan main road.
The Bandh called by BJP unit of Bicholim taluka and assisted by Shiv Sena was cent percent successful in Bicholim, as all the educational institutions, private transport operators, banking institutions and NGOs supported the Bandh.
All the schools declared holiday due to poor attendance of the students. However, though all the government offices were open, they wore a deserted look due to poor attendance of staff members.
Enough though it was a Bazaar day at Sanquelim, about 95% shops remained closed, while vendors also preferred to participate in the Bandh.
The activities of the agitators, who participated in the Bandh, were so fast that police and fire brigade personnel found it difficult to clear the barricades, comprising trees and stones, which were placed at different places in Bicholim and surrounding areas like Sarvan, Vhalshim, Mulgaon, Assanora, Bordem and other areas.
On Monday morning, people preferred to travel by Kadamba buses, which were traveling under police protection, but after stone pelted on a bus, people preferred to go home without attending their work.
When some agitators learnt that work was going in Bicholim Industrial Estate area, they send some activists and stopped the work. The entire market area in Bicholim wore a deserted look, as all the shops including fish market, bar and restaurants, kiosks and establishments remained closed.
In Sanquelim, though it was a Bazaar day, hardly any 5% shops were open and that too with half shutters, while all the government offices also wore a deserted look.
Bicholim PI Harish Madkaikar, PSI Tukaram Walke, PSI Terrance Vaz and DySP Bossuet Silva were seen taking stock of the situation.
Bicholim Deputy Collector Narayan Gaad and Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat were also seen handling the situation.
Meanwhile, Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, MLA Anant Shet, BMC Chairperson Satish Gaonkar and councilors claimed that the Bandh was 100% successful.
SANGUEM
The All India Bandh was total success in Sanguem taluka with all shops and establishments remaining closed and private buses operating along various routes in Sanguem remaining off road for the day.
There was however no untoward incident of any sort reported from any corners of the taluka.
Incidentally, it was for the first time that all the shops and establishments remained closed in Sanguem, particularly in the remote areas where notwithstanding the Bandh call given by any party, shops used to remain open.
Hotels, tea shops and general stores in the remote areas as that of Uguem, Bhati, Neturlim, Rivona and other areas remained closed, thereby making the bandh a total success in Sanguem.
Schools and the lone higher secondary school in Sanguem functioned as usual, but with poor attendance. Government Offices, banks and a pharmacy in the town area however remained open for the day, but with less clientele.
The Mamlatdar’s office in Sanguem which is otherwise found busy on any given working day wore a deserted look with hardly any people visiting the office for official work.
Buses plying from Sanguem towards various destinations were seen parked at Sanguem bus stand. A couple of extra Kadamba buses which plied along the Sanguem-Curchorem route also had any passengers, as most people preferred to remain indoors.
Speaking to Herald, Sanguem MLA Vassudev Meng Gaonkar thanked the business community and bus owners from the constituency for supporting the bandh and making it a total success in Sanguem.
Gaonkar claimed that due to escalating prices of essential commodities, it has become difficult for the common man to live in the country.
“The government has totally failed in putting a check over the rising prices all over the country, thus affecting the common man,” added Gaonkar.
PONDA
The Bandh was peaceful in Ponda taluka, barring a stone pelting incident, wherein a windscreen of the Ponda-Vasco bound KTC bus was damaged at Borim. Luckily, no one was injured and one Sandip Gaude was arrested in this connection.
In another incident, Marcaim Madkaim BJP Block President Prashant Naik was detained on charges of blocking the road at Farmagudi.
Police personnel were deployed along various locations to prevent any untoward incident. Major trading and business centers in Ponda remained closed, however few small business establishments at the new KTC bus stand did not support the Bandh.
Private bus operators, motorcycle and taxi operators also supported the nationwide bandh called by the BJP in protest of price rise.
Essential services like pharmacies were open, however some petrol pumps in Ponda taluka remained closed.
Unaware of the situation, few interstate commuters were stranded at the KTC bus stand, Ponda.
Sitaram from Himadgao-Anmod, Karnataka, along with his 10 colleagues waiting for a bus at Ponda new bus stand said: “We were unaware of this development. We are waiting since morning, but no bus has arrived. We don’t know whether we will reach to our native place today.”
Shiroda MLA Mahadev Naik was seen at the old bus stand Ponda along with BJP supporters.
“The Bandh is 100% percent successful. People have supported our call for a bandh and we are thankful to them. The Congress government has taken the common man for a ride and with 100 percent support to our bandh, it is clear that mandate is on our side,” he said.
“This is definitely not a common man’s government. Inflation has affected the aam admi. The government should roll back price rise on petrol, diesel and the cooking gas,” he added.
Ponda Merchants Association President Sunil Dessai said they have supported the bandh as it has adversely affected the economy.
“I am thankful to the Ponda Merchants for supporting the bandh call. We are against the government decision on the price hike as it has affected the common man,” said Dessai.
Shiva Sena has also supported the bandh call. North Goa Shiva Sena Chief Damu Naik said his party workers were already instructed not to indulge in law-breaking activity.
“Shiv Sena has supported the bandh call as the price rise has affected the people. The government does not care for the aam admi or else they would have controlled the price rise. However I have already instructed our North Goa party workers not to break law and observe bandh peacefully,” added Naik.
QUEPEM
The bandh was total in Quepem taluka, though no untoward incident took place.
Sources informed that the bandh was voluntary, but on Sunday BJP volunteers were seen moving in Quepem Bazaar distributing pamphlets and requesting the shopkeepers to observe bandh on Monday.
Except for three pharmacies in Quepem town, all the shops and establishments remained closed throughout the day. However, some shop owners opened their shops late in the evening.
Private schools in Quepem declared a holiday due to poor attendance. All the government institutions like mamlatdar, Deputy Collector, BDO, council, other departments and banks functioned as usual. In most of the offices, most staff attended their duties, however in some offices the attendance was thin. Some policemen were seen posted in Quepem town.
SATTARI
The Bandh at Valpoi evoked mixed response, as most shops in Valpoi market were closed, while only a few shops were seen open till 10 am on Monday.
However, the situation changed thereafter and some more shops were seen open under the protection of police force, who was camping in the market area.
Private buses, rickshaws and pilot motorcycles remained off the road throughout the day, thereby causing inconvenience to the public.
Most aided high schools in Valpoi closed early. Although the banks in Valpoi remained open, the credit co-operative societies remained closed.
Sources from some of the offices in Valpoi informed that the staff attendance was low due to unavailability of adequate transport facility.
Honda Sattari junction and surrounding area wore a deserted look as almost all the shops in the area remained closed. However, most of the shops in Keri-Sattari were seen open, while the restaurants and hotels in most of the places in Sattari remained closed. Even the fish market at Valpoi remained closed.
When contacted, Valpoi PI Shivram Vaigankar informed that the bandh was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported.
Later in the evening, ex-deputy speaker and BJP leader Narhari Haldankar addressed the press conference and informed that the Bandh was a 90% success.
“People from Sattari gave an overwhelming support to the bandh, as all the common men are being affected due to rising inflation,” he claimed.
He further said no shopkeeper was forced by BJP workers to shut down, but the shopkeepers themselves supported for the bandh responding to the appeal of BJP north Goa MP Shripad Naik and other local leaders.
Haldankar claimed that out of about 150 shops in Valpoi, only about 20 shops remained open.
He thanked Valpoi people and shopkeepers for supporting the Bandh, thereby expressing resentment over rising inflation.
PERNEM
The Bandh evoked good response in Pernem taluka, as all the shops and establishments remained closed.
No untoward incident was reported. Pernem police said the bandh was peaceful and had deployed police personnel in sensitive areas.
In the morning, a large number of commuters were seen at Pernem bus stand and most of them had to return back to their residences, as few KTC buses were seen plying.
Most of the industrial units and schools in Pernem remained closed, while one-third of the government staff reported for duty.
Many schools were open, but had to close down early for the day due to poor attendance.
TISWADI
The area around Old Goa evoked huge response for the Bandh. Over 35 police personnel, including police officials from Old Goa police station, were deployed at various places in and around Old Goa to avoid any untoward incident.
Shops and other establishments in Old Goa remained closed for the day, while the locals who are doing their vegetables business near the Old Goa Circle also joined the bandh.
Early morning, locals from Corlim and Old Goa, who were waiting for bus transport to proceed towards Panjim to their offices were forced to go back home after private buses went off the road and KTC buses were seen plying at odd hours during the day.
Some BJP workers were seen moving in and around industrial area in Corlim, asking the company officials to close their business and support the Bandh, which some companies agreed to.
[With inputs from Kathy Pereira, Suresh Naik, Thomas Fernandes, Anil Shankhwalker, Vishant Vaze, Alfred Fernandes, Amresh Parab, John Fernandes, Ashraf Khan, Taurappa Lamani, Arun Naik and Kanzil Rodrigues]
