The ruling Trinamool Congress on Monday asked the people of West Bengal to “foil” the Wednesday’s nation-wide strike called by several central trade unions, including the Leftist trade unions — All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), even as the state government on Monday made it mandatory for all its employees to be present in office on the bandh day.
“The CPM and Left Front during its 34 year-old rule had pushed state backwards with its militant trade unionism. Now, when the state is moving fast on the path of development, they are trying to stop it either by violence or through shutdowns,” Senior TMC leader and state Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee told reporters.
“We condemn this culture of bandh. It adversely affects the economic condition of the state and country. We would not get into a fight with those who have called a strike, but instead ask members of respective unions to continue with their normal vocation. Those who drive autos, or work at jute mills or mines should continue to do so, without any fear,” he said.
He further alleged that some union leaders have called this bandh for their own political interest.
“The goondaism that they had let loose few days back on the streets of Kolkata by attacking police. They must realise that those who had talked about fights in the past had been rejected by the people in general and that is what will happen to those political parties once again,” he said.
“We believe in peaceful agitation and taking along the masses with us,” he added.
