CHENNAI: The 14th All-India general strike pushed Chennaites to start at least an hour earlier on Tuesday morning. While most people took it in their stride, some were left stranded. M Tech graduate Prasanna, was set to take a Psychometric test, when he learnt of the strike, “I thought that I won’t be able to make it after I heard about the strike. I did start early but it turned out to be quite unnecessary. When I reached the road, everything was plying except for a few autos with some Trade Union flags”, he said.Raja, an auto driver, said that the strike was essential to express the discontent of the working class over the escalating prices.A member of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), he also stated that the proposed disinvestment in the profitable Public Sector Undertakings(PSUs) will only lead to a cut in the existing fuel subsidy. “Again, its going to increase the financial burden of the working class and drive up the prices of all essential commodities”, he lamented.For Ramakrishnan, another auto driver, aligned with Anna Thozhil Sangam (ATS), it was a day of perks, as ferried passengers without hault.“Usually, I make approximately `350 between the morning peak hours and noon. But today, I had managed to earn `550 by noon and even managed return trips on all my three drops today,” he said, before he rushed to take part in the demonstration at Saidapet.As far as the bus service was concerned, there was not much disruption in the city, as the MTC had already taken measures to ensure adequate services by calling on their reserve workforce. This included those who belong to the ATS, which did not participate in the strike. “Drivers and conductors who were willing to work on consolidated pay handled the duty of those abhorring from work”, an official source informed. Though the strike was peaceful at large, there were a few incidents of stray violence reported in the city. At Panagal Maligai, a section of auto drivers protested because some auto drivers chose to work, while the strike was in progress and even attempted to stop them. Policemen who were on security duty tried to pacify the protesters in vain. A few angered drivers on strike, even went to the extent of arguing with auto drivers who opted out of participating and abused them verbally. The cops threatened to arrest the protesters if the demo disrupted road users and other transport. Finally, the protestors withdrew and peace was restored. In another incident, a stray group of auto drivers went on a rampage, in which at least three autos were damaged and a driver injured, near the New Secretariat. Again, police intervention was required. PDS outlets around the city were seen to function normally without any reported incidents.
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