Date:15/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/15/stories/2006121510130300.htm

Karnataka - Bellary

Strike: commuters in Bellary put to hardship

Staff Correspondent

Processions taken from Durgamma temple to Mothi Circle

CALL FOR ACTION: Leader of AITUC addressing a rally of trade union members organised in support of the all-India general strike at Mothi Circle in Bellary on Thursday.

BELLARY: A near total bandh was observed in Bellary city on Thursday. The response to the bandh in other parts of the district, including Hospet was good and the bandh passed off peacefully without any untoward incident being reported from any part of the district.

In response to the all-India strike call given by Left party-affiliated trade unions, activists of various trade organisations, including the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), LIC Employees' Association, anganwadi and midday meal workers, the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, representatives from the unorganised sector, Grama Panchayat Employees Association and autorickshaw drivers association under the banner of the Joint Council of Trade Unions took out two processions from Durgamma temple and from APMC to protest against the "anti-people" and "anti-worker" policies of the Centre.

The procession culminated at the Mothi Circle. Normal life was disrupted in the city as most shops, business establishments, hotels and restaurants, banks and LIC offices remained closed throughout the day.

0The road transport corporation had withdrawn bus services and train services between Hospet and Guntakal were not running owing to works being taken up. Speakers at the rally, while lambasting the UPA Government for its policies called upon the working class to remain united and extend full support to the leaders to ensure that their demands were conceded to.ss A.R.M. Ismail, general secretary of the AITUC, expressed concern over the export of natural mineral resources from the district, worth crores of rupees, while the district continued to remain backward.

According to him, all the politicians in the district were in mining business and have been trying to keep the entire district under their thumb.

According to reports reaching the district headquarters, response to the bandh in all taluk headquarters in the district was good.