If the reaction of the Muslims was any indication, the 24 hour general strike may further alienate them from the ruling CPI(M). “The bandh could not have come at a worst time. Today is the 27th day of Ramzan which is a very significant date in Islamic calendar. Agreed, the CPI(M) leaders are not supposed to know this. But the entire
country knows that Eid is round the corner and the shopping for the biggest Muslim festival was in full swing when the bandh put the brakes on it,” said Mohammad Hashim, secretary, Rabindra Sarani Merchants’ Welfare Association.
The shops on Rabindra Sarani, Zakaria Street and adjoining areas were open but there were few buyers. “The decision to allow the markets in Muslim-dominated area to remain open is neither here nor there. As you can see the shops are open but where are the customers? In the run up to Eid, we receive customers not just from other parts of the city but from as far as Burdwan, Nadia and Murshidabad. How will they come when the public transport system has collapsed?” he asked. Lashing out against the CPI(M), shahi imam of Tipu Sultan mosque Syed Noorur Rahman Barkati alleged that the Citu committed a “social crime” by organising the bandh in Ramzan. “Can any party dare call a bandh three days before the Durga Puja?” he asked. Maulana Barkati who is close to Trinamul Congress, claimed that the bandh would further antagonise the Muslims who have already started deserting the Left Front.
In Kidderpore, both Fancy and Five Star Markets were open but these were not crowded. “Only those who live at a walking distance are shopping today,” Mohammed Haroon Rasheed said.
New Market, which is a favourite shopping joint for Eid shoppers was also open but majority of the shops were closed. “There was no point in opening the shops because we realised that there will not be enough customers,” said Pradip Kumar Shaw, the working secretary of New Market Traders’ Association said.
Mr Shaw claimed that the shop-keepers of New Market may have suffered a loss of business worth several crores. “Eid may be a Muslim festival but the shop owners who do brisk business on this occasion are both Muslims and non-Muslims. This bandh has dealt a severe economic blow to them,” Mr Shaw added.
Ridiculing the decision to give relief to Muslim areas, famous tennis coach Akhtar Ali said the Citu bosses were living on some other planet. “Don’t they know that today many Muslims also do their festival shopping like others in swank malls and show rooms which sell branded products? ” he asked.