Bandh call evokes partial response

Puducherry, Mar 15 (UNI) The 24-hour bandh called by the Federation of Village Panchayat Presidents Association here to press for the devoiution of powers to the elected local body representatives evoked a partial response and has been peaceful so far.

While all shops and other business establishments remained closed and private buses and tempos were off the road, government and private schools (barring a few which declared holiday, government offices, mills and industrial estates functioned normally.

With a local court granting an interim injunction on holding the bandh, none of the organisers took to the streets.

Police made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order and no untoward incidents had been reported so far.

Meanwhile, Federation Deputy Convenor Jaganathan thanked all sections of the people for making the bandh a success.

He told newspersons that for the last eight months, the elected representatives had been holding agitations on the issue. However, not even on a single occasion the government invited them for talks.

A 15-day notice for the bandh was given and even then the government paid no attention to their demands. Left with no other option, they were forced to go ahead with the bandh, he said adding the government alone was responsible for today's agitation.

He charged the government with making efforts to thwart the bandh and said people themselves came forward to support it.

UNI