Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is determined to foil the bandh on February 28 and she is adopting a two-pronged strategy for this purpose. On the one hand, her government has on Tuesday issued a circular cancelling leaves of all government employees on that day and on the other, her party Trinamul Congress has decided to take to the streets to actively oppose the bandh. The Trinamul Congress apprehends that a successful bandh will further consolidate the CPI(M)’s position which has already got a shot in the arm by the huge success of its Brigade Parade Ground rally on Sunday.
The state government issued a circular in the evening which stated that all state government offices would remain open on February 28 and no leave would be granted on that day.
The proposed all-India industrial strike which has been called by a conglomerate of 11 trade unions which include the Congress’ labour wing Intuc and BJP’ labour wing BMS is likely to affect only industries in the rest of the country. In West Bengal, however, the Left parties are leaving no stone unturned to turn the industrial strike into a Bangla bandh which has of late become an anathema for the chief minister. “The bandh is a joint conspiracy by the CPI(M), the Congress and the BJP to derail the development process in the state. It is politically motivated. Therefore, the Trinamul Congress has decided to oppose it peacefully and democratically,” Trinamul Congress secretary general and industries minister Partha Chatterjee said.
The industrial strike has been called to protest against issues which relate to the Centre.
“They should go and sit on a dharna in Delhi. Why they want to disrupt normal life in the state?” he asked. Mr Chatterjee said that buses and trains would run normally and schools and colleges, markets and factories would remain open.
The State Government Employees’ Federation (SGEF) which is closely connected to the Trinamul Congress, has written to the chief minister, urging her to ensure normal transport service and keep open all offices on February 28.
“The politics of bandh should come to an end to improve our work culture,” SGEF state president Manoj Chakraborty said.
The CPI(M)-backed Coordination Committee, however, reiterated that they would participate in the strike. “We will participate in the strike to press for our six-point demands. The Left Front government was sympathetic to our cause and even had granted leave to the employees on a day of strike. But this government by issuing a circular has proved that it is against the rights of employees,” general secretary of Coordination Committee Ananta Bandyopadhyay said.