Kolkata: The state government has taken all necessary steps to ensure that common people do not face any inconvenience due to the six-hour bandh called by Left Front on Friday.
State government employees have also been directed not to take casual leave in the first half of the day. The bandh has been called from 6 am to 12 noon. The employees have to be present on Friday and it has also been stated that "...absence on that day shall be treated as dies non and no salary will be admissible," unless it is due to certain particular reasons.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had stated on Wednesday that there will be no bandh on Friday and had termed it as a "gimmick".
On Thursday, the Bengal government has issued a notification, stating: "it has been decided that all state government offices, including those provided with grant in aid, shall remain open."
It has also been notified that "...all the employees shall report for duty on April 13. No casual or any other leave for absence either in the first half of the day, the second half or for the whole day, shall be granted to any employee on that day." Moreover, the employees, who are on leave on April 12, shall have to report for duty on April 13 and no extension of leave shall be allowed. "No salary shall be admissible, unless such absence is due to hospitalisation of the employee, bereavement in the family or severe illness. Child care leave, maternity leave, medical leave and earned leave sanctioned prior to April 12 will also be granted," the notification stated, adding that heads of the offices will showcause the employees who will remain absent on Friday.
Disciplinary action will be taken in case no response is given to the showcause notice within a stipulated time.
Criticising the bandh, Partha Chatterjee, secretary general of Trinamool Congress, said: "There will be no bandh as it is being called at a time when they have lost connection with common people, while the present government is carrying out massive development work."
Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, senior INTTUC leader and the state Power minister, also held a rally from Esplanade, protesting against the bandh.
Suvendu Adhikari, state Transport minister, said: "All necessary steps have been taken to ensure adequate number of buses during the 6-hour bandh on Friday." Apart from this, the top brass of the Transport department will be monitoring the entire situation. Special buses will be deployed from important places.
Anuj Sharma, ADG (Law and order), said that the police have taken all necessary measures to avoid any untoward incident on Friday and said stringent measures will be taken if anyone is found damaging any property. Steps will also be taken so that students do not face any problem in reaching examination venues. In case people face any problem, they may dial 1093 to seek help of the police.