New Delhi: Normal life is likely to be crippled across the country on Tuesday and Wednesday due to two-day nationwide strike called by central trade unions against the alleged repressive policies for workers adopted by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. Ten trade unions who have jointly called for the nationwide strike are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA.
Following the strike, commuters in Bengaluru Delhi and Mumbai are likely to suffer as buses and autos will stay off roads. In Bengaluru, KSRTC, BMTC along with auto-rickshaws buses will not ply on both days. However, App-based cabs, airport taxis will function. Operators of Mumbai’s BEST buses have also threatened to join the nationwide protest. However, in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government has clearly stated that no strike will be allowed in the state on January 8 and 9. The state government has also asked employees to not take any casual leave.
In the wake of strike, all educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities in Odisha will remain closed today, a statement issued by the State’s Higher Education Department said.
“This is the largest number of workers from formal and informal sectors joining the strike against anti-people and anti-worker policies of the BJP-led central government,” Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of AITUC, told reporters here in a joint press conference of the 10 CTUs.
Tapan Sen, general secretary of CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) asserted that bank and insurance employees, public and unorganised sector employees along with port and dock workers are expected to participate in the two-day protest called against economic crisis, price rise and acute unemployment.
In rural areas, farmers across the country under the aegis of the Left peasant wings have threatened to observe ‘gramin hartal’, rail roko and road roko against the “failure” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to address rural distress.