The nationwide strike by trade unions had its echo in Parliament on Thursday with Left parties, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party raising the issue vociferously as the Left warned the government that it will come to grief if it failed to give a fair deal to workers.
"You have enjoyed the support of the Left, completely ignoring our views, this cannot go on for long," Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta asserted in the Lok Sabha after the issue was raised in Zero Hour by Basudeb Acharia of CPI-M.
In the Rajya Sabha, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said if the UPA government persisted with its economic policies, it will meet the same fate as that of National Democratic Alliance government that had launched the 'India shining campaign.'
The Lok Sabha witnessed Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary utilising the opportunity to embarrass the Left over the Singur issue. His remarks drew protests from Left members.
Dismissing charges that the government was 'anti-labour,' Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi said the United Progressive Alliance coalition had tried to fulfill most of its commitments in the common minimum programme and will bring a legislation for the unorganised labour in the budget session.
As both Houses assembled for the day, members of Left parties were on their feet demanding suspension of Question Hour to discuss the nationwide industrial strike. As this was not agreed to by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, they staged a walkout along with those of SP, TDP and BSP members and forced a brief adjournment in Rajya Sabha.