Maharashtra Bandh Updates: BEST said eight of its buses were vandalised in different areas of Mumbai.
Bus services were affected across Maharashtra and most of the shops and commercial establishments remained closed today in the wake of the bandh called across Maharashtra by three partners in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to protest the killing of four farmers in Uttar Pradesh''s Lakhimpur Kheri district.
Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress - the three ruling allies- have appealed to people to wholeheartedly support the bandh, which began at midnight, to express their solidarity with farmers.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said his party will take part in "full force" in the bandh. "All the three parties will actively participate in the bandh. What happened in Lakhimpur Kheri was a murder of the Constitution, a violation of the law and a conspiracy to kill farmers of the country," Mr Raut told reporters.
The state BJP has warned the state government not to shut shops forcefully.
Here are LIVE Updates on Maharashtra bandh:
Most of the black-yellow cabs and auto-rickshaws were off roads in the metropolis, as per transport union leaders.
"The black-yellow taxis are operating, but their number is very less. The taxi operations outside the city airport are unaffected," said AL Quadros, general secretary of the Mumbai Taximens'' Union.
The Metro rail services were also operating normally in the city.
Maharashtra Bandh Live Updates: Bus Services Affected, Shops Closed In Mumbai
While the BEST bus services remain affected, the local trains, considered as the lifeline of Mumbai, were operating normally, but running packed as road commuters shifted to suburban rail services.
"Our services are running as per schedule," Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer of the Central Railway, told PTI.
The Mumbai Police have made a plan to ensure people are not inconvenienced. Policemen are deployed at strategic points. Three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, 500 Home Guards and 700 from other forces are helping the Mumbai Police in maintain law and order.
"Local trains are operating on their regular schedule, so you can plan your day accordingly," Mumbai Police tweeted this morning.
BEST claims 8 buses vandalised in Mumbai, seeks police protection
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) said that eight of its buses were vandalised in different areas of Mumbai between midnight and 8 am today.
BEST further claimed that the buses were vandalised amid Maha Vikas Aghadi''s (MVA) Maharashtra bandh today in protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that claimed the lives of eight people including four farmers.
A union of traders in Maharashtra that earlier objected but later decided to support the bandh.
"After the request of Shiv Sena and other party leaders, we have decided to keep shops closed till 4 pm in support of the shutdown call," Viren Shah, chief of Federation of Retail Traders' Welfare Association (FRTWA), said in an amended statement on Sunday.
Shiv Sena leaders take out solidarity march to protest the killing of four farmers in Uttar Pradesh''s Lakhimpur Kheri district.
"People are supporting bandh," says NCP leader Jayant Patil
NCP leader Jayant Patil said that people are supporting the bandh.
"No action has been taken against the Union minister and his son who were involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. BJP is anti-farmer and wants to crush them," Mr Patil said in Mumbai.
APMC market closed in Pune in support of the bandh. "The traders of the market had decided to observe the bandh and informed the farmers in advance," market administrator Madhukant Garad was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Maharashtra Bandh Live Updates: Bus Services Affected, Shops Closed In Mumbai, Neighbouring AreasBus services were affected across Maharashtra and most of the shops and commercial establishments remained closed today in the wake of the bandh. While the BEST bus services were affected, the local trains, considered as the lifeline of Mumbai, were operating normally, but running packed as road commuters shifted to suburban rail services.
"Our services are running as per schedule," Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer of the Central Railway, told PTI.
According to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport or BEST, which runs service in Mumbai, eight buses have been damaged so far.
According to Mumbai Police, security has been deployed at strategic points, with 3 companies of SRPF, 500 Home Guards, and 700 men from Local Arms units.
Maharashtra Bandh: State ruling alliance is supporting the protest
The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government comprising the Shiv Sena, Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP is supporting the bandh. In fact, the state government itself announced the bandh at a joint press conference of the three parties.
"I request 12 crore people of Maharashtra to support the farmers. Support means all of you join the bandh and stop your work for a day," Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik told reporters.
A plea has been filed in the Bombay High Court for taking Suo Moto Cognizance against Bandh called by Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi.
"If shopkeepers are ''forced'...: BJP's Nitesh Rane warns state government
The state BJP has warned the state government not to shut shops forcefully.
Taking to Twitter, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane on Sunday said, "If shopkeepers are ''forced'' to close shops Tomorrow by any of the MVA karyakartas..then they will have to face BJP karyakartas! Police should ensure no one is forced or else there will be a law n order situation which is not our responsibility".
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said his party will take part in "full force" in the bandh. "All the three parties will actively participate in the bandh. What happened in Lakhimpur Kheri was a murder of the Constitution, a violation of the law and a conspiracy to kill farmers of the country," Mr Raut told reporters.
The state government said everything will be closed except for essential services. The Agricultural Produce Market Committee or subzi mandi will also be shut.
Shops will remain shut across Maharashtra today as the state government has called a bandh to protest against the killing of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh.