Two-day strike hits normal life in key states, scores detained in West Bengal

A two-day-long nationwide strike beginning Tuesday has been called by ten major trade unions against the alleged repressive policies of the NDA government.
NEW DELHI: The two-day-long nationwide strike called by central trade unions against the alleged repressive policies of the Narendra Modi-led union government has begun to affect the normal lives in several states. The 48-hour-long strike appears to be having a major impact in Left-dominated states of Kerala and West Bengal.
The strike is quite visible in other states like Assam, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Manipur Bihar, Rajasthan, Goa, Punjab, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Haryana.
The strike has been called by ten major trade unions to protest against the Narendra Modi government’s alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms. According to reports, nearly 20 crore workers of the state and central government are expected to join the nationwide strike which has been called by 10 trade unions.
The strike has been called by a consortium of ten central trade unions and has received support from organisations like the AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, along with employees in the banking and insurance sector. Farm unions like All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) cand Bhumi Adhikar Andolan are also part of the strike. The trade unions have supports of almost all major independent federations of central employees, state employees and the employees of banks, insurance, telecom, and other service sectors representing the workers and employees of all the industries and services including transport services, both in organised and unorganised sectors.
The central trade unions during the convention held in September 2018 had given the call for a nation-wide strike accusing the government of “arrogantly ignoring” the 12-point Charter of Demands on minimum wage, universal social security, workers’ status and including pay and facilities for the scheme workers, against privatisation of public and government sector including financial sectors. Laying out their demands, the convention at the time also denounced the “communal and divisive machinations in society being carried on with the active patronage from the government”.
Here are the latest updates on two-day general strike called by major trade unions: –
8 January 2019, 10:23 AM
Delhi: All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members hold protest in Patparganj industrial area against privatisation of public and government sector and demanding minimum wages, social security among others.
8 January 2019, 10:22 AM
In some states, the transport department, taxi drivers and auto-rickshaw drivers have gone on strike for two days while Railway workers are holding gate meeting bearing black badge to express their solidarity, says Amarjeet Kaur, AITUC.
8 January 2019, 10:20 AM
The strike is quite visible in Assam, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Manipur Bihar, Rajasthan, Goa, Punjab, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Haryana – particularly in the targeted industrial areas and different mines, says Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of AITUC.
8 January 2019, 10:18 AM
The two-day strike is affecting normal life in Kerala. Here are some more visuals from Kochi.

8 January 2019, 10:15 AM
West Bengal: Clashes between TMC and CPM workers in Asansol during 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes and against privatisation of public and government sector.

8 January 2019, 09:28 AM
West Bengal: Central Trade Union protests underway at Rupsa, Jaleswar and Datan in Bhadrak- Kharagpur railway section and Raghunathbari in Haldia railway section, reports ANI .
8 January 2019, 09:25 AM
Odisha: Members of Central Trade Unions hold protests and block commuters in Bhubaneswar demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others. Central Trade Unions have called a 48-hour nationwide strike over several demands.

8 January 2019, 09:24 AM
West Bengal: Police in Kolkata detain CPM workers protesting in support of 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions. Their demands include minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

8 January 2019, 09:20 AM
Here are some visual from Karnataka’s Hubli where 48-hour nationwide strike called by Trade Unions, demanding minimum wages, social security schemes and opposing privatisation of public and government sector organisations, has begun.

8 January 2019, 08:27 AM
In West Bengal, members of Central Trade Unions block railway line in Howrah demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

8 January 2019, 08:04 AM
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the trade unions’ two-day general strike would have no impact in the state. READ FULL STORY
8 January 2019, 07:57 AM
In Assam, central trade unions have called a two-day nationwide strike demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others. Here are some visuals from Guwahati.

8 January 2019, 07:46 AM
Buses and autos to stay off roads in Bengaluru, key services are likely to hit across Karnataka due to Bharat Bandh. READ FULL STORY
8 January 2019, 07:44 AM
I do not want to spend a single word on this. In West Bengal, we have taken a stand of not supporting any bandh. Enough is enough. In the last 34 years, they (Left Front) have destroyed the state by calling bandh. There will be no bandh: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
8 January 2019, 07:42 AM
Key services like banking, transport etc are likely to be affected across the state due to two-day strike by trade unions.
8 January 2019, 07:41 AM
The trade unions have supports of almost all major independent federations of central employees, state employees and the employees of banks, insurance, telecom, and other service sectors representing the workers and employees of all the industries and services including transport services, both in organised and unorganised sectors.
8 January 2019, 07:41 AM
According to reports, nearly 20 crore workers of the state and central government are expected to join the nationwide strike which has been called by 10 trade unions.
8 January 2019, 07:40 AM
Farmers’ unions like All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) cand Bhumi Adhikar Andolan are also part of the strike.
8 January 2019, 07:40 AM
The strike has been called by a consortium of ten central trade unions and has received support from organisations like the AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, along with employees in the banking and insurance sector.
8 January 2019, 07:38 AM
The 48-hour-long strike is likely to have a major impact in Left-dominated states of Kerala and West Bengal.
8 January 2019, 07:38 AM
A two-day-long nationwide strike has been called by ten major trade unions against the alleged repressive policies of the Narendra Modi-led union government beginning Tuesday.