Bandhs necessary evil says Buddha as state stays shut

He said, ‘‘we were worried and I invited the foreign investors for talks. I invited them for talks seven days ago but my offer was rejected. After all how many hours it takes to withdraw a bandh?’’

However, the Trinamool said: ‘‘It’s a red alert we’ve sent to the state government which did not rise to the alarming financial situation. Shunning ego, the government should look into issues which the people have responded to,’’ party chief Mamata Banerjee said.

But she held out an olive branch to the government reiterating that ‘‘doors for talks will remain open. We want to play a positive role’’.

Normal life in the city and all across the state was disrupted as the dawn-to-dusk bandh, called to protest non-payment of teachers’ salaries, the power tariff hike and distress sale of paddy, got underway.

Police rounded up 450 Trinamool activists across the state for obstructing road and rail traffic.

Earlier, Mamata fell ill while leading a procession near her south Kolkata residence. Her condition is stable.