Left trade unions call for bandh in West Bengal on April 30

KOLKATA: Four Left trade unions including CPM controlled Citu have called a 24-hour general strike in West Bengal on April 30 to protest against violence and vote loot by Trinamool Congress activists in the recently concluded civic elections. Intuc, the trade union arm of the Congress have also supported the strike call. The opposition Left Front have also lent support to the strike call by Left trade unions.

This is the first general strike called by the Left trade unions and Left parties in Bengal in four years.

The CPM and other Left parties didn't call any bandh or strike in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee came to power in May 2011.

Newly elected CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury , who was present in Kolkata on Sunday , told reporters that people should come forward to protest against Trinamool's calculated move during the civic polls to unleash terror and intimidate electors.

Citu leader Shyamal Chakrabor ty told reporters during a press conference on Sunday that the ruling party had made the civic elections a farce.

"Pople know what the Trinamool Congress had done during the Kolkata municipal corporation (KMC) elections held on April 18 and also during polls in 91 municipalities on Saturday . If the ruling party resorts to such violence in a civic election, we can well imagine what they will do next year when assembly elections take place. Naturally , we can't allow Trinamool Congress to adopt such undemocratic ways and loot votes. Its high time we urge people to protest against this," Chakraborty said.

Trinamool Congress secretary general and state education min ister Partha Chatterjee urged the people to oppose the Left sponsored strike on Thursday .

"The Left parties are trying to bring back the bandh culture in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is opposed to bandhs and strike. Her party didn't call any bandh or strike in the past five years. The Left parties and their trade unions have called for a strike at a time when the entire nation is trying its best to help those affected by the earthquake in Nepal. By organising the strike, the Left parties are practically trying to disrupt the state government's move to stand beside the people of north Bengal, many of whom have been badly affected by the earthquake," Chatterjee said.