Nationwide trade union strike nearly cripples life in Bengal

Most of the central trade unions, including INTUC, AITUC and CITU have given the shutdown call in protest against the Narendra Modi government's economic and labour policies.

Life in Kolkata and elsewhere in West Bengal, was hit as  clashes between bandh supporters and activists of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress were reported from several areas.

Bandh supporters also fought a pitched battle with police in the city's Esplanade area.

Special Additional and Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Hdq), Rajeev Mishra, told IBNS: "We have arrested 29 people in Kolkata. The situation is now normal."

Former municipal minister and CPI(M)'s veteran leader  Ashok Bhattacharya and the party's Darjeeling district Secretary  Jibesh
Sarkar among others were arrested for picketing in Siliguri in North Bengal, crippled by the strike.

CPI(M)'s former MP Moinul Hasan and  MLA Sk Inser Ali were  injured when they were allegedly attacked by TMC supporters in Murshidabad district. Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed in the district's  Baharampur following clashes between  CPI(M) supporters and Trrinamool
Congress supporters.

Most of the shops and business establishments remained shut throughout West Bengal while the banking sector was badly affected.

Though the state government arranged a large fleet of state buses for transportation, the number of passengers was few while there was fewer number of  private vehicles on roads .  Train services were partially affected, but the city's metro service was normal.

Most of the educational institutions remained closed as authorities declared the day as a holiday.

A major number of  factories remained closed in the state's industrial areas though attendance in government offices where employees were mandated by the state Government to report for duty was near normal.

Syamal Chakraborty, President of CITU's West Bengal state committee told IBNS : "The bandh is hundred per cent successful. Police and Trinamool supporters have jointly attacked our workers in many plalces."

Left unions and cadres took out marches since morning in Bengal.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the trade union affiliated to India's largest communist party CPI(M)  has been on the forefront of the strike while the Congress affiliated INTUC also joined the call.

Only BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and National Front of Trade Unions (NFITU) have decided to boycott the strike. Centre's Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, earlier said the impact of the strike will be minimal.

The Central and state governments have taken initiatives to foil the  general strike on Wednesday.

The trade unions are protesting against several issues including the price rise of essential commodities and black marketing and agitating against several policies of BJP led central government and of TMC led West Bengal government.

Declaring a day's pay cut, central and state governments published two different notices for their employees.

West Bengal government has also allowed its staff to stay in government offices at night, before the bandh.

Opposing the pay-cut notices, West Bengal CPI(M)'s state secretary Suryakanta Mishra said, "It is illegal, unconstitutional and fails to stand judicial scrutiny. Struggle, unite and make the strike successful."

Assuring to provide security, the WB government has urged the people to join their works on the strike's day.

State's transport secretary Alapon Banerjee told IBNS, "Government undertaking buses will be run normally. We are requesting the private transporters to keep state's transportation normal. Government will ensure their security."

Meanwhile, the Bengal Taxi Association (BTA) has called a day-long taxi strike in Kolkata on Sep 2. The general secretary of BTA, Bimal Guha told IBNS: "We will not run our taxis on Sep 2."

However, private bus and minibus associations stated that they are ready to run their buses if they get the assurance of security from the government. Auto-rickshaw unions have also assured to keep their service normal.

General manager of luxury taxi service provider Uber-Kolkata, Ashwin Dias said through a press statement, "Uber is committed to ensuring people in Kolkata have a safe, reliable and affordable transportation option at the push of a button, even during this strike. Our teams and thousands of partner drivers are working tirelessly to ensure that Ubers are available and no one is stranded."

Kolkata police have deployed extra forces on the strike day.

Special Additional and Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters) Rajeeb Mishra told IBNS on Tuesday, "We will deploy as many as ten thousand extra policemen tomorrow to ensure city's security. We have arranged police picketing at several important points in Kolkata including bus and tram depots, rail and metro stations to avoid any untoward situation."

Few helpline numbers will be opened from 6 am on Wednesday to provide help to the commuters if they faces any trouble during travel. Few of those are-

CSTC (Local enquiry)- 033 2248 2401
CSTC (Long-distance enquiry)- 033 2248 1916
CTC- 033 2248 1731/1732
NBSTC- 033 2243 0736
SBSTC- 033 2248 6269
WBSTC- 033 2248 3037/2411 6388

Howrah railway station- 033 2660 2581/3542
Sealdah station- 033 2350 3535/3536/3537
Metro rail- 033 2226 4817

Police- 100
Ambulance service- 102

Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS