Strike hits normal life, coal output; Violent clashes in WB

New Delhi, Sep 2 (PTI) A day-long nationwide strike today impacted normal life in various parts of the country with coal production, banking operations and transport services being hit the most, while violent clashes erupted in West Bengal resulting in arrest of over 1,000 persons.

Union leaders claimed that over 15 crore organised sector workers went on the strike, call for which was given by 10 central trade unions against changes in labour laws and PSU privatisation along with their other demands. The BJP-backed BMS and NFITU however stayed away from the strike.
The government, however, said that the call for strike did not have much impact in most parts of the country, even as it hinted at meeting the "aspirations" of the workers on nine out of their 12 demands.
The Labour Ministry further said in a statement that out of 12 central trade unions, two did not join the strike, three unions remained neutral and only seven unions went on strike.
The ten unions, however, said in a joint statement that the response to the strike call was "unprecedented" with "millions of workers" staying away from work.
Labour Ministry said the situation by and large remained normal and peaceful across the country and the government was positive on many of the workers' demands without any pressure.
However, unions said the response was "unprecedented" with "millions of workers" staying away from the work.
The impact was most visible in West Bengal, Tripura, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry and Odisha among other places, while partial impact was seen in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Gujarat, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Normal life was affected in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan also, but there was not much impact in financial capital Mumbai except for banking services.
Commodity markets remained closed in most part of the country.
Banking services were among the worst hit as 23 public sector banks, 12 private sector banks, 52 regional rural banks and over 13,000 cooperative banks joined the stir. However, staff at SBI, Indian Overseas Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank choose to stay away from the strike.
All India Bank Employees Association General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said nearly five lakh bank employees and officers joined the strike.
In West Bengal, over 1,000 persons were arrested from different parts after clashes occurred at some places between Left and Trinamool workers including in Murshidabad district.
Altogether 974 people were arrested in various districts and 50 others in the metropolis for trying to enforce bandh, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata.

Source : PTI