— Photo: V .V. Krishnan

A STRONG MESSAGE: Members of Parliament belonging to the Left parties, including Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, demonstrate in New Delhi on Thursday against the UPA Government's "anti-poor, anti-labour" policies.

NEW DELHI: Normal life came to a virtual standstill in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura on Thursday following a nationwide general strike called by the Left-backed trade unions. They were protesting against the "anti-people" economic and labour policies of the Government.

While industrial belts in most other States were also affected, the highlight was the participation of a large number of government teachers from several districts across the country.

"Beyond expectations"

"The strike went beyond our expectations and the participation of State Government teachers in such large numbers was encouraging. The success of the strike is a direct reflection of the Government ignoring the working class," Centre of Indian Trade Unions president M.K. Pandhe told reporters here.

If the Government did not react even now, the unions would go in for bigger action.

Protest before Parliament

In the capital, Left MPs held a demonstration in front of Parliament in support of the strike call, given by the CITU, the AITUC and the HMS. They later addressed workers at Jantar Mantar.

The Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-backed Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh distanced themselves from the strike, describing it as "politically motivated."

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