Agartala: The Nationwide Bharat Bandh called by the opposition Congress along with several other organisations paralysed normal life in Tripura.
The Bharat Bandh that was called by the Congress, Left and other parties to protest against rising prices of fuel and falling value of the rupee resulted in empty roads, closed markets and shops and low attendance in government offices and banks in the state.
Trains operated by Northeast Frontier Railways witnessed very few passengers during the 12-hour shutdown as Congress workers tried to disrupt railways in different places.
Opinions on the impact of the Bharat Bandh varies as the Congress and left-leaning parties boasted of a massive success, while the ruling BJP said that the people of Tripura have rejected the shutdown.
Several Congress party workers were arrested for holding demonstrations in different places and creating obstacles in front of government offices during the Bharat Bandh.
Manipur Lok Sabha member Thokchom Meinya along with two party leaders from Assam, Wajed Ali Choudhury and Abdur Rauf, were also arrested here.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Lok Sabha member from Tripura Sankar Prasad Dutta told the media that braving the threat of ruling BJP and the state government, the state's people unitedly observed the Bharat Bandh to protest against the rising prices of transport fuel and essentials.
"Normal works were done in government offices and in most places in Tripura. Ongoing process of panchayat elections was also carried out all over Tripura. As plying of vehicles was little less, government employees and other workers went to their places of work with their own arrangements," BJP General Secretary Pratima Bhowmik said.
"As a national party, BJP's policy is always against any shut down as the party gives top priority to development and peace besides the interest of the common and poor people. Any kind of 'bandh' or strike affected the development and interest of the people."
With Inputs from IANS