Strike by trade unions disrupt normal life in some Indian cities

New Delhi, Feb.28 (ANI): A nation-wide strike by central trade unions in protest against the "anti-labour" policies of the UPA-II Government disrupted normal life on Tuesday.

According to reports, the strike has affected the functioning of banks, shops and offices, besides different modes of public transport, which have links to pro-Left trade unions.

Movement of railway traffic too has been affected, but no blockade of railway tracks has been reported as yet.Electricity and water supply and the health sector have been exempted from the strike.

Trade unions are demanding a guarantee of labour rights, an end to the contract labour system, bringing workers in the unorganized sector under the social security net and pension benefit for all workers.

Left unions like the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), the pro-Congress Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and the pro-BJP Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) are also supporting the strike.

In Kolkata, normal life remained largely unaffected, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned state government employees that absence from duty would be treated as a break in service.

Public transport in the city , including buses, taxis, trams, trains and the metro rail services plied normally. Private buses functioned skeletally.

Flights going out of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport were normal.

Kolkata's Police Commissioner R K Pachnanda said that at least 25 flying squads have been deployed for patrolling duties to prevent a law and order problem.

In Mumbai, bank, insurance company, central government and local body employees, besides private industry employees joined the one-day strike.

Public transport employees, however, have not joined the strike on account of ongoing examinations.

Essential services have been kept out of the strike.

Tight security has been deployed at strategic locations to prevent untoward incidents. (ANI)