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Strike near total in West Bengal

Special Correspondent

Spontaneous response from the people, claim trade unions

PHOTOS: SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH, AP

WHEN CITIES SLEPT: As the strike called by Left trade unions hit the country on Thursday, life was affected in many States. Kolkata's Howrah bridge, which is choked with traffic on a normal day, is deserted during the strike.

KOLKATA: Life ground to a halt in West Bengal on Thursday following a nation-wide general strike called by Left trade unions and organisations in protest against the economic policies of the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre.

Trade union leaders claimed that the strike call was "near total" and evoked a "spontaneous response" from the people, with industrial workers in nearly all sectors "not just supporting but also participating" in it. The assurance that there would be no forcible enforcement of the strike was kept "and there was virtually no picketing."

There were no reports of any violence, according to the State administration. Twenty-five persons were arrested for allegedly driving out people from offices, Home Secretary P.R. Roy said.

The only sector falling within the purview of the strike but where the impact was marginal was the information technology services. Though it is listed by the West Bengal Government as a public utility service, it is not regarded an essential service.

The IT firms made special transport arrangements for their employees and there was no complaint of workers being prevented from attending duty.

With none to hire rickshaws in Agartala, this driver has ample time to catch up on sleep.

Remained functional

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who had earlier taken the initiative to ensure that the IT sector remained functional, expressed satisfaction at the attendance level which was "higher than normal." He had stated that no picketing in the vicinity of the IT hub in the city would be allowed.

No domestic airliner operated from the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport here.

Train services in both the Eastern and South-Eastern Railway divisions were severely disrupted. Many long-distance trains were cancelled and suburban train services suspended because of "obstructions at different stations."

Public transport services did not operate, taxis did not run and trams did not ply in the city. Banks remained closed as were commercial establishments and educational institutions. Attendance at State and Central Government offices was thin.

The strike and its overwhelming success "would not send any wrong message outside the State" to prospective investors, Shyamal Chakravarty, president of the State unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said. "The industrial climate here is conducive for investments... If workers strike work for a single day against injustices, they suffer for 364 days [in a year]. It will not close down industries."

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