The nationwide strike on Tuesday called by the Left parties against the hike in petrol and diesel prices evoked a mixed response with it getting unruly in some parts of the country.
Initial reports suggested that the CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc sponsored 'Action Day' was most visible in Communist-ruled states like West Bengal and Kerala while it evoked a partial response in Bihar and Delhi.
Other states saw lukewarm response to the protest against hikes of Rs 2.50 per litre for petrol and Rs 2 a litre for diesel.
In the national capital, commercial vehicles as well as TSRs and taxis were seen on the roads even as the bustling ITO saw hundreds of Left activists pushing down barricades and lying down in front of vehicles to stop traffic.
Police had to use water cannons against the activists and CPI leader Amarjit Kaur was also caught in the gush of water. Some cities and towns in southern India also felt the impact of the strike against the 'UPA government's economic policies.'
CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat asked what was the need for raising the prices when there were alternatives to avert a price hike.
Contending that the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices had nothing to do with global oil rates since it was more due to internal taxation, she said the hike has 'affected the common people.'
In Bihar, activists tried to sporadically enforce 'chakka jams' and disrupted rail and road traffic amid tight security arrangements. CPI workers squatted on the railway tracks in Samastipur while some 250 activists were chased away by police in the capital Patna.
The strike evoked a lukewarm response in Orissa as trucks were seen plying in the industrial towns of Angul, Talcher and Paradip.
Kerala, which has a strong Left presence, chose not to join the strike as it was still recovering from two recent 'hartals' but activists would be picketing government offices in district headquarters demanding a rollback, CPI-M sources said.
In Tamil Nadu a majority of the 25,000 trucks went off the roads and Karnataka saw bullock carts being taken out in symbolic protest. Rallies and demonstrations were held in some towns of the state.
Reports from Tripura said public transport services were broadly off the road while in neighbouring Manipur the reports said the strike failed to evoke response.
