Bandh (basically a strike)

Today, I am working from home. All my colleagues are told to work from home due to a Bandh (or a strike) that is in effect from 6am to 6pm today. Tamil Nadu chief minister declared a strike for the entire state today to protest against the treatment of Sri Lankan Tamils by the Sri Lankan government. He requested all businesses and activities to stop for one day to show solidarity. These bandhs sometimes get quite violent so our company decided to have all employees to work from home to get out of harm's way. I don't see anything really happening here (although I haven't stepped outside of the house today - because it's too hot and I am not well enough healthwise to withstand the heat) but our driver called in this morning to let us know that he would not be able to come because the public buses are not working. It's very interesting that these things really affect ordinary people's lives, and that too for something that is happening in a different country. I guess since the elections are coming up, politicians are using every possible issue out there to damage other political parties' positions.