Strike: Normal life hit in Kerala, Bengal, Tamil Nadu unaffected

Though buses and trains plied normally in Bengal and TN, office attendance was less

The nation-wide strike called by central trade unions, on Friday, hit normal life in Left-ruled Kerala with public transport vehicles staying off the roads and shops and business establishments downing shutters.

Autorickshaws, taxies, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and private buses are not plying on roads across the state with the workers of various unions taking part in the strike.

Major roads wore a deserted look in the state capital where hundreds of employees of ISRO units, including Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), could not reach their offices as the strike supporters laid a siege of an ISRO bus bay in Thiruvananthapuram.

Train passengers had a tough time as they had to walk to their homes after alighting at the railway station in Thiruvananthapuram.

However, police helped patients coming to the Regional Cancer centre by arranging transport.

All major unions, barring RSS-associated BMS (Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh), have joined the strike, terming as "completely inadequate" the Central government's assurances to look into their demands and the recent announcements for two-year bonus and hike in minimum wage.

In West Bengal it was a different picture altogether.

Government buses and other private vehicles were operating normally.

Train services at Sealdah and Howrah sections, and Metro Rail services were also as usual. However, the rush of passengers was less.

"So far, there has been no major incidents, except a few small incidents in some districts," said a senior police official.

CITU-led Left trade unions claimed that the strike is going on peacefully and accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) of trying to incite violence at some places.

"The people of the state have willingly participated in the strike. In most of the places it is peaceful but in certain areas TMC is using its muscle power to break the strike," CITU State President Shyamal Chakraborty told PTI.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Friday, said while leaving for Italy, "The strike will be a complete failure in the state. I will be monitoring the entire work personally. Even though I will be out of the state but I will monitor the situation. My appeal to everybody is to reject the strike for the development of the state."

Normal life remained unaffected in Tamil Nadu also.

Bus and train services operated as usual while shops and business establishments remained open. Educational institutions are functioning normally.

The ruling AIADMK's labour wing is not participating in the strike called by ten central unions.