Shutdown hits commercial life in Himachal

Shimla (IANS)- Banks and commercial establishments were closed in parts of Himachal Pradesh Tuesday after trade unions of central government employees joined the nationwide strike to protest price rise, violation of labour laws and privatisation.

Most of the private hotels, banks and government insurance companies, and the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) shut shops as their employees were on a day-long strike. Employees of the State Bank of India (SBI), however, did not participate in the shutdown.

Also, there was no impact on air, rail and road traffic here. Normal life was not disrupted in the 11 other districts of the state.

"There is a complete shutdown in private hotels, hydropower projects and various central and state government departments in the state too," Jagat Ram, state president of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), told IANS. CITU is affiliated to the Communist Party of India-Marxist.

"We have made elaborate security arrangements. So far there was no report of violence across the state," Inspector General (Law and Order) S.R. Mardi said.