SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 9: Trade union leaders have claimed complete success of the Bharat Bandh in Jharkhand, asserting that coal production, loading, and dispatch activities were brought to a halt in the mines of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), and Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL).
However, officials from all three coal companies maintained that the strike had no significant impact on daily operations. According to them, coal production and dispatch continued as usual, and a final bulletin on the day’s impact will be released in the evening after the completion of all mining shifts.
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Union Leaders Claim Complete Shutdown
Brajendra Prasad Singh, Vice President of INTUC, claimed that the bandh was 100% successful, with miners and workers of BCCL, LIC, banks, and other sectors fully supporting the strike. He even remarked that “God too cooperated,” referring to the continuous heavy rainfall throughout the day that contributed to the shutdown of coal operations.
Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union (RCMU) General Secretary A.K. Jha echoed similar sentiments, stating that coal production and dispatch in BCCL were completely paralysed. He noted that while members of the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) — affiliated with the BJP and opposed to the strike — attempted to resume mining by marking attendance, their efforts were unsuccessful.
CCL Operations Also Affected
In the mines of CCL, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) reported a strong response to the strike. AITUC senior leader and JBCCI member Lakhan Lal Mahto claimed that around 80% of miners supported the bandh, with only 20% reporting for duty.
“Miners are alert and aware of their rights, which is why they ensured the Joint Front’s strike was a resounding success,” Mahto said.
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Mining Halted in ECL’s Nirsa Area
In the Nirsa region, where ECL and BCCL operate, CITU General Secretary and Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee claimed 100% success. He said mining activities by both the coal companies and their outsourcing partners were completely shut as workers did not report for duty.
“The company had even detained some night shift workers to continue into the morning shift, but that tactic failed,” he added.
As the day progressed, trade unions hailed the Bharat Bandh as a collective show of strength against the Centre’s labour and privatisation policies, while coal company officials maintained operations were largely unaffected — a full assessment expected later in the day.
