Thaindian News

Kolkata, Sep 4 (IANS) Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Saturday termed the Sep 7 general strike spear-headed by the trade unions of the Left parties and other outfits as “one imposed on the people” and said her party did not support the “shutdown politics”.
“Trinamool Congress does not support the shutdown politics as it will not do any good for the common people,” Banerjee told media persons at her Kalighat residence.

“During a shutdown, trade and industry incur losses in crores (of rupees) which results in price hike of the commodities,” added Banerjee.

Criticising the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led government for calling a shutdown for the third time in last 45 days, she, however, said that her party will not go in any confrontation with the CPI-M on the issue and oppose it in a democratic and peaceful way.

“Even the common people do not support the shut down call, it was imposed on them forcefully,” she claimed.

“The CPI-M activists obstruct the railway tracks, block the roads and even used muscle power to prevent common people from going out of their homes,” Banerjee said, urging the common people to come out on the streets protesting against the shutdown call.

Nine major trade unions, including the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the Centre of India Trade Unions (CITU) have called for an all-India strike by workers Sep 7 to protest against “inaction” of the union government into resolving their genuine problems.