General Strike Evokes Mixed Response

The one-day national general strike called by 10 Central Trade Unions against the Centre’s policies evoked a mixed response even as the unions claimed that more than 25 crore workers, farmers, agriculture workers, and students participated.

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While the Congress and the Left parties expressed solidarity and congratulated the workers for their protest, the Sangh Parivar’s trade union BMS said workers did not take part in a “political strike.”

While States such as Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu witnessed shutdowns of establishments for the day, striking workers held protest rallies in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Punjab.

Sectors such as banking, insurance, ports, and public transport were also affected by the strike.

The unions claimed in a statement that there was a total bandh in Kerala, Tripura, Assam, Bihar, Punjab, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Goa, and several other States.