Chennai: Technically it was a general strike called by the DMK for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
But on the ground it was a partial bandh. Buses were off the roads. Shops and commercial establishments decided to play it safe.
"Please stop the war in Tamil Nadu, we beg of you, they are our blood," a local said.
And another asked, "In what other way we could show our protest?"
But while restaurants remained shut, there was brisk business at government owned liquor shops. Auto-rickshaw rides cost a lot more. The common man was hit hard.
Only last year, the Supreme court came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu government for keeping buses off the roads during the government sponsored strike for the Sethu project. But ironically the chief secretary claims life was normal on Thursday.
The Supreme Court has banned bandhs. But the ruling DMK calls this a voluntary general strike. The big question is, are the public being held for ransom for what the opposition has termed a drama?