Transport minister Subhas Chakraborty’s call for half an hour’s chakka jam on Friday noon, to protest the US attack on Iraq, stalled traffic and inconvenienced commuters (picture on right by Pradip Sanyal).

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) M.K. Singh said state buses and trams stopped in the middle of all major roads, bringing traffic to a grinding halt. Among the vehicles stranded were ambulances carrying patients. “This is inhuman,” commented a doctor.

“The ripple effect lasted hours,’’ Singh said. Vehicles stood fender-to-fender and passengers blamed the cops and the government. Asked why police did not take action against the bus drivers, Singh said: “How can we take action against the directive of the transport minister?’’

Chakraborty, however, was nonchalant. “The chakka bandh evoked a mixed response but the important thing is that people joined the protest against the attack on Iraq,’’ the minister said.