CITU challenges Mamata to foil tomorrow’s strike

A large number of state employees were present in their offices, defying the strike called by Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

The West Bengal government is planning to come up with a legislation to impose fine on those who damage public property during strikes and shutdowns, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here on Thursday.

“We will make a law on this. I had a discussion on this with the chief secretary”, she said here.

“I appeal to the people to keep Bengal on the move tomorrow (Friday)”.

“If there is any damage to property or vehicles, our government will give compensation”, she said.

“There will be strongest possible action against any miscreant who will try to disrupt public life”, Banerjee tweeted.

The Chief Minister said she had herself till a few years ago called shutdowns from time to time. “Unlike puja bonus there should be no bandh bonus … You only get publicity”, she said.

CITU State president Shyamal Chakraborty pointed out that the general strike is against the “anti-people policies” of the Centre and alleged that the Chief Minister was doing the ” Bharatiya Janata Party’s biding” by trying to foil the strike.

“TMC is planning to let loose violence across the state tomorrow under the garb of Singur Divas”.

The ruling Trinamool Congress today celebrated Singur Divas across the state.

Trinamool Congress had yesterday announced to celebrate “Singur Divas” across the state on September 2 following the Supreme Court’s verdict setting aside acquisition of 997.11 acres of land at Singur in 2006 by the then Left Front government for Tata Motors’ Nano auto manufacturing plant. “They want to let loose violence across the state”, he alleged. Their diktats and circulars are completely against the law.

Claiming that the recent order of the Calcutta High Court which stated that there can not be any use of force either to break or to enforce a strike, the State leadership of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said that verdict has provided them a “legal advantage”. “We want a peaceful strike, but we will put up a stiff resistance if the state government uses force”, he said.