BEST strike, Maratha protests and other shutdowns that hit Mumbai hard

BEST bus strike in Mumbai

The BEST bus employees' indefinite strike entered into its third day with lakhs of commuters in Mumbai getting affected. Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on an indefinite strike since Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries and merger of the budget of the loss-making undertaking with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Mumbai in the recent past has witnessed a few protest rallies and strikes which have impacted the lives of the common man. From transport union strikes to protests by communities demanding reservations, the city has been hit hard by these shutdowns.

Here is a look at strikes which have caused inconvenience to the citizens of Mumbai

Ola-Uber strike

Ola and Uber drivers, with support from the NCP-led union, went on an indefinite strike on October 22, 2018 in two phases inconveniencing commuters in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and other nearby areas.

The strike was called off for the second time on November 20 after the intervention of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who assured the union that he would convene a meeting with the driver partners and union leaders post the winter session.

Bhima-Koregaon violence

Protestors belonging to the scheduled caste community called for a Maharashtra bandh on January 3, 2018, to protest the state government's alleged failure to stop violence in Pune's Bhima Koregaon village. Scores from the community had gathered in the village to celebrate the 1818 victory of the British East India Company over the Peshwas, when violence broke out. Several towns and cities in Maharashtra were on edge as the violence spilled over to capital Mumbai, With agitators damaging scores of buses, and disrupting road and rail traffic.

Maratha protests

The Maratha community held protests across Maharashtra on July 25, 2018, demanding reservations in jobs and education among other things. Mumbai witnessed incidents of stray violence and the police detaining 447 protesters. The bandh was called off in the afternoon, but not before an attempt to torch a BEST bus. However, the protests by the Maratha community in Thane and Navi Mumbai were anything but peaceful. The agitation was replete with stone pelting, bus burning and rail and rasta roko incidents, which ended in lathi charge from the police in Kalamboli and Thane. The protesters reportedly damaged property worth Rs 10 lakh.

Mumbai Auto-Taxi Union Strike

Upset that the government did not meet their demands to control app-based cab aggregators Uber and Ola, three major auto-taxi unions announced they will not ply in the city from August 29 to 31. However, most auto and taxi unions, after their meeting with the transport commissioner later, called off their proposed 3-day strike, but not all. Of the 12 participating unions, Mumbai Auto Rickshaw Mens' Union - the largest auto union led by Sharad Rao's son Shashank - went ahead with its planned strike on 31 August.

Air India flights affected

As many as 12 flights got delayed due to a strike called by the contractual ground staff of Air India Transport Services Limited (AIATSL) at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai on November 8, 2018. As per reports, the AIATSL ground staff went on strike demanding payment of Diwali bonus. The strike was called off after discussion with the management.

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