WB govt initiates steps to prevent BJP-sponsored Bharat bandh

Kolkata, May 30: The

Government put in place several measures to prevent NDA-sponsored 12-hour '

' against petrol price hike while issuing a circular warning government employees against any leave on Thursday.

"All state government offices will remain open and all government officers and employees should report for duty. Government employees will not be granted any leave on May 31," Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh said in a circular on Wednesday, which was circulated among all departments.

Different employees unions said that the circular was a warning to government employees of pay-cut in the event of absence from duty without specific reason. The state government had effected pay-cut in salaries of government employees who were absent during the February 28 countrywide general strike called by Left trade unions.

The circular said that all precautionary measures should be taken to ensure that there was no violation of law and order and that no untoward incident took place. "Attempts at forcible closure of government offices, shops, markets, educational institutions, industrial establishments, etc., should be firmly dealt with", it said, adding, "vital installations should be specially guarded".

The circular said that normal vocation of the people in general should not be allowed to be disturbed. "In particular it should be ensured that there is no interruption in normal flow of road traffic or stoppage of movement or trains due to squatting or other types of blockades", it said.

PTI