Near total peaceful Bandh, Goans stay away voluntarily
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 02 September 2015 12:37 IST
It’s a surprise. Buses off the road, bus stands deserted, no fish in the market, vegetable markets not fully running, most of the shutters down and even government offices are partially attended.
The transporters and industrial strike unexpectedly turned into total Goa Bandh, just not in the main cities like Panaji, Mapusa, Margao etc but even the interior towns of Pernem, Bicholim, Canacona etc.
It appears that people have voluntarily stayed away from their routine when there was absolutely no forceful bandh witnessed anywhere in Goa.
Largely peaceful
The bandh has been largely peaceful with no incident of any kind of major violent action reported anywhere.
No untoward incidents were reported except stones thrown at Kadamba buses in Mangueshi and Bicholim. Nobody was hurt except a window glass of one bus was broken.
Senior police officials also confirmed that no major incident has been reported anywhere.
Adv Suhas Naik, convenor of the 14 organisations that came together for Goa Bandh as part of Bharat Bandh, thanked the people of Goa for making it successful.
Deserted look of Mapusa bus stand
"I also appeal to the people to remain peaceful and protest silently by staying away throhgout the day", he made an appeal through goanews.com.
Buses, taxis off the road
Almost all the private buses remained off the road today making almost all the bus stands in the towns having a deserted look.
Goa government succeeded in bringing few Kadamba buses on the road, but they had no passengers to ply.
Even very few private vehicles – four wheelers and two wheelers - were seen on the roads.
“We have provided total security to Kadamba buses and even in the markets with 700 policemen spread throughout North Goa. But people have stayed away”, North Goa SP Umesh Gaonkar.
Ferry services are running at most of the routes, but there were no usual flow of commuters in it.
Taxis also did not come on the roads today, mainly affecting the airport traffic at Dabolim. Tourists had a tough time reaching the airport, but private vehicles to the airport were allowed.
Markets deserted
Looks like business community, small traders and even consumers voluntarily decided to take a break for a day.
Major fish markets of Panaji and Mapusa were totally closed. Even trawlers did not go fishing, thus there was no fresh fish to sell in the market.
Other markets of fruits and vegetables, including Goa’s major market of Mapusa, was seen open hardly with 30 per cent shutters up.
Surprisingly, not a single town or market place saw any group of activists of the striking organisations moving or forcing anybody to close any shop or public transport.
Mapusa fish market was totally closed
Poor attendance in schools & offices
Schools and government offices are running, but with poor attendance.
Some schools let the students go home after 2-3 periods since classes were more than half empty.
There are also reports that some schools had told parents not to send their children to schools, due to transport issue.
Government offices were open, but hardly any public was seen while many employees also did not report at duties, probably because of public transport getting affected.
Workers detained at Verna
Only industrial estates were seen with workers protesting in groups while they stayed away from work.
Total 130 workers demonstrating at Verna Industrial Estate gate courted arrest under the leadership of Prasanna Utagi when police tried to disrupt them. They were detained under Section 151.
Uttagi told goanews.com that workers even from the industrial units, where unions don't exist, responded to the Bandh, making it a total success.
“Our 700 policemen are deployed everywhere but no demonstrations or strikers moving in groups were seen except at the industrial estates”, said South Goa SP Shekhar Prabhudesai.
Reports reaching from all the parts of Goa indicate that situation is no different, may it be Pedne, Bicholim, Curchorem, Sanguem or Canacona.
Workers courted arrest at Verna Industrial Estate
Surprising response
Most of the areas ruled by the ruling BJP MLA witnessed voluntary bandh. Comparatively, Quepem or Margao – represented by Congressmen – were partially open.
Major towns like Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Ponda and Vasco witnessed a funny trend – shops of Goans were closed while most of the shops open are owned by migrants.
“This is a first such voluntary near-total Bandh Goa is witnessing in last two decades, when it was part of Bharat Bandh and not at all a forceful one”, commented an experienced senior official.
People gathered at Bagayatdar in Ponda
Margao bus stand (Photo: Datta Prabhu Moni)
Curchorem market
(All photographs are taken from our media colleagues, who posted on WhatsApp groups)
Just goes to show that bandh are totally useless. What did they get from the bandh? People instead took a holiday and enjoyed at home. Rather they will loose a days pay. No use of bandh in today's economy. Waste!!