United Against Notes Ban, Trinamool, Left Divided In Call To Block Bengal

Kolkata: The compulsions of state politics have pitted the two rivals against each other on the national issue.

The Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal today warned employees that they will lose a day's pay and benefits if they don't come to office on Monday, the day Left parties have called a state-wide strike against centre's ban on old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will even hold a mega march in Kolkata to protest the strike.

"The CPM and BJP have a secret understanding and therefore the hartal (strike)," Ms Banerjee reportedly told party leaders who met today at her Kalighat home. "People will ensure the hartal's failure," she added.

In Delhi, opposition parties have agreed to observe Monday as "Aakrosh Divas" or Day of Angst.

"That was a central decision," said Left Front chairman Biman Bose while announcing the strike on Friday. "This is a state protest. We want the state government to ensure wages of tea garden workers and others at the earliest," he said.

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Privately, Left workers say if Mamata Banerjee opposes their strike, it will show that her "enemy number one" is still the CPM and not the BJP.

Today, chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee, said, "Some political parties have called a general strike. But law violation will not be tolerated."

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"Normal life will be maintained," he said, adding, "Roads will be patrolled. We have spoken to rail and civil aviation officials to ensure normalcy."

The Finance Department has also issued orders that all government employees must come to work.

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"If they are absent on 28 and 29 November, they will lose a day's pay, unless they have a compelling reason like hospitalization, bereavement et cetera," Mr Banerjee said.

The state Congress chief, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, has supported the Left strike in Bengal.