Bandh evokes mixed response in Barak Valley

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR: The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Left-oriented 26 organizations across the country evoked mixed response in Barak Valley. Bandh had its impact in Cachar with all sorts of public vehicles remaining off the roads in urban and rural areas. Shops and business houses and educational institutions were closed. Inter valley, long and short distance train services as well as air services were affected. In fact, bandh called by any organisation makes psychological impact as citizens, particularly the owners of private and public vehicles, prefer to keep indoors instead of facing the wrath of the supporters.

Reports from Karimganj and Hailakandi say people responded to the bandhin a lukewarm way. There was little or no support from the public in Hailakandi. It were the SUCI activists who were seen moving with banners in the border town of Karimganj. Offices, state and central government, were seen functioning of course with thinner attendance in both the districts.

Bandh and strike is the very culture of Left parties and this is seen particularly during elections to exert and exhibit their presence, knowing fully well it is this culture which has thrown them out of power in West Bengal after four decades of rule. Or the leaders have the miscalculation this way  they can garner public support to make political space. The valley has presently no support for Left parties.

And this sort of negative politics was brazenly seen in the post Independent period. CPM then a single entity never supported India's freedom struggle and the resultant freedom of the country which they dubbed as 'incomplete.' On instructions from Stalin in Moscow, CPM called all India railway strike in 1948 which flopped. Then the Left leaders planned farmers' revolt which too failed. Moreover, the valley has developed a sort of dislike for bandhculture.

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