Rail and road traffic was hit in several states, including Bengal, Odisha and Andhra, as a nationwide strike by ten trade unions began this morning against what they have called "anti-labour policies of the government, along with other issues".
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is among the ten trade unions that have called for countrywide protests. Nine other trade unions, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC, are also part of the strike, according to CITU.
In Bengal, train tracks were blocked by protesters in Howrah and Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas district. The Left has accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of doublespeak after the state government said it would not support the strike. In Odisha, the strike affected road and rail traffic in Talcher, Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, Bhadrak and Kendujhargarh.
The government on Tuesday had warned central trade unions of "consequences" against the nationwide strike. "Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action," an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel said today. In its order the ministry said government servants were prohibited from participating in strikes or protests.