NEW DELHI: The Bharat bandh called by a section of trade unions demanding reversal of the new. economic policy, failed to evoke much response except in West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura and parts of Assam and Kerala. The all india strike which ended without any major incidents, was termed by the Government as “highly localized.”
The sponsoring trade unions affiliated to the National Front and left parties, however, called it a “much bigger success than the previous strike,” Center of Indian Trade Union (CITU) general secretary M.KPandhe claimed that work in the nationalized banks, Central and state Government offices, defence installations and other public ‘sector units came to a halt in response to the bandh call. The unions claimed that about 10 million people participated in the strike protesting the ‘disastrous’ economic policy.
Home minister S.B,Chavan on the other hand dubbed the strike as “a total flop” which had no impact on the country with the exception of West Bengal, Tripura and some parts of Kerala. “I don’t think politically they have gained anything,” he remarked while talking to the correspondents. Except for Calcutta air services were not disrupted, he said, However, the Home Minister admitted that flights had to be clubbed al one or two places.
Labour minister P.A.Sanema said that the countrywide strike could not affect normal life and usual activity as. a whole. Refuting the trade union charges he said that all the major demands of the workers had already been met, A Government spokesman described the loss of production due to the strike as ‘insignificant” and said work at the major ports except at Haldia and Cochin remained unaffected.
In a Statement the CPI-M politburo said, “The success of the bandh and general strike call is a powerful manifestation of the working people’s opposition to the economic policies of the Narasimha Rao Govemment,” Janata Dal secretary general Sharad Yadav congratulated the people on their “massive participation” in the strike, The CPI national executive said that the bandh was a “warning to the Narasimha Rao Government that the pursuit of the economic course would not be tolerated.”
Article extracted from this publication >> September 17, 1993
