Strike partially affects West Bengal

The West Bengal government did all it could to thwart the strike called by 12 Left trade unions on Wednesday but could not instill enough confidence in people to venture out.

While near-empty public transport vehicles plied on deserted roads in the state capital where most commercial establishments remained shut, clashes between supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Left parties were reported from some parts of the state.

The attendance in the government offices was scanty despite the authorities issuing a circular declaring absence without a valid cause would lead to deduction of a day’s salary.
However, employees at the state secretariat stayed back overnight to join work on the strike day.

The government deployed additional buses while the Kolkata Metro rail service remained normal to ensure that the day is not disrupted.

Suburban train services were hit in the morning because of blockades at several places but things returned to normal later. The ruling party and the opposition in the state had different takes on the strike’s outcome. While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it “had no impact anywhere in Bengal”, Left Front chairman Biman Bose claimed it to be a “total success”. He also accused the state government of using the police “to attack peaceful strike supporters”.

Echoing Bose’s views, CPM state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said: “Our comrades are being mercilessly attacked and thousands have been arrested.

 The shutdown has been successful despite the state government’s violent tactics.”
Senior state minister and president of TMC’s trade union INTTUC Subrata Mukherjee  termed Mishra’s statement “baseless” and said: “The police only took action where strike supporters were forcibly closing shops and offices.”

Senior police officers, however, admitted to “minor incidents of violence” in some parts.
In Kolkata, the police had to resort to lathicharge to break a demonstration.
At Murshidabad, a number of Left activists had to be admitted in hospital after TMC supporters pelted stones at them.

Clashes were also reported from a number of railway stations where supporters of the ruling party took on the protesters to break their demonstration.