Banks, transport worst hit by nation-wide strike

There were stray incidents of violence at the start of a two-day strike called by trade unions to protest against high prices and policy changes, including foreign investment in supermarkets, that they said could hurt employment.

Many banks were closed and public transport was disrupted in several parts of the country.

As many as 11 trade unions, including the ruling Congress party affiliated Indian National Trade Unions Congress (INTUC), said the first day of the protest that they had called jointly was successful in putting pressure on the government to listen to them.

“At least 95% of our workers from steel, manufacturing, mining and transport sectors came on the road to protest,” said G. Sanjeeva Reddy, president of INTUC. “The government and the party (Congress) have to listen to the just demand of the poor workers. Economic growth has no meaning unless it trickles down to the common workers,” Reddy said. INTUC has 20 million members.

C.H. Venkatachalam, general secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), said the strike was a success at state-owned banks.