Bandh cripples normal life in Pondy

Puducherry, Mar 31 (UNI) Normal life was severely affected in the Union Territory of Puducherry as the 12-hour bandh called by the Democratic Progressive Alliance evoked a near-total response here today.

The bandh is being observed to protest the Supreme Court's interim stay on the Centre's notification providing 27.5 per cent reservation for OBCs in the Centrally-administered higher educational institutions.

All the shops, business establishments, small industrial units and eucational insitutions remained closed. Buses, taxis and three-wheeler passanger tempos were off the road. However, a few auto rickshaws were plying and government offices and textile mills functioned with thin attendance.

The bandh was so far peaceful in all the regions of the Union Territory. However, over 100 volunteers of the DPA constituents, including legislator Anantharaman (PMK) and former MLA T Jayamurthy, were arrested when they organised a road-rokho at Ariyankuppam near here.

Meanwhile, claiming the bandh a total success, DMK convenor and former Chief Minister R V Janakiraman in a statement thanked all sections of the public who extended support to the bandh.

Mr Janakiraman also urged the territorial administration to adopt a unanimous resolution in the Territorial Assembly here on the lines of Tamil Nadu to press the Centre to convene both the Houses of the Parliament to do the needful in the reservation issue.

UNI