Mixed response to shutdown call in Tamil Nadu

Chennai : It was a mixed response in Tamil Nadu to the opposition sponsored nationwide shutdown Thursday with buses plying on the roads and government offices as well as educational institutions functioning. But shops remained shut and trucks did not run.

Banking/insurance operations were affected as majority of the staff did not report for work.

The opposition parties have called for nationwide shutdown protesting against the centre’s decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail sector, sharp increase in diesel prices and imposing restriction on the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders.

In Tamil Nadu, DMK, the two left parties and others have supported the shutdown while the ruling AIADMK government though voicing its opposition to the centre’s measures has not supported the shutdown.

The DMK is a major constituent in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre.

Welcoming DMK’s decision to support the shutdown, D. Pandian, Tamil Nadu secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI) told IANS: “This is the first step. We will have to see whether the party will follow the steps of Trinamool Congress that announced withdrawing its support to the centre.”

Pandian said the allies of the Congress will certainly have to face the negative rub-off following the decisions taken by the central government.

According to police, elaborate security arrangements have been made across the state to prevent any untoward incident.

While the government had announced that schools and colleges would function, some private schools announced a holiday much to the relief of many parents.