Strike hits life in many states
Tribune News Service and agencies

NEW DELHI, Dec 11 — Life was affected, banking services came to a standstill, train services were disrupted and industrial activity was hit in a large number of states by the one-day general strike called by the National Platform of Mass Organisations (NPMO) in protest against the economic policies of the BJP-led coalition government.

Over 1,400 persons were arrested during the day in a few states, including West Bengal, where four persons were injured in a clash. Arrests were also made in Orissa, Bihar and Tamil Nadu.

The convener of the NPMO, Mr N.K. Pandhe, said the strike evoked a good response all over the country and there was a total bandh in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tripura, Bihar and Assam. Delhi and Mumbai were, however, not affected much by the strike as life in the cities was reported to be normal.

But for picketing of trains in Bihar and Kerala and stoning of vehicles in parts of Kerala, the strike remained by and large peaceful.

While, no major incident was reported during the strike, 300 persons were arrested in Orissa, 150 in Bihar and 30 in Tamil Nadu for various offences, including violation of prohibitory orders.

In Assam, a scuffle between the police and demonstrators picketing trains at Rangiya Railway Station in Kamrup district led to an accidental firing which, however, injured no one.

In Bihar, the strike began amid tight security following the Patna High Court directive to the state government not to allow the strike to turn into a bandh.
Pro-strike agitators tried to block movement of trains in several places and private buses did not ply apprehending trouble while major business establishments did not open for the day.

In Kerala too, trains were picketed by strike supporters in some stations even as the government took measures to ensure that the strike did not turn into a bandh on a directive from the Kerala High Court.

Describing the strike as the biggest ever action since Independence and a severe indictment of the government by the people, Mr Pandhe said normal activities, including train services were completely paralysed in several states and employees abstained from work in banks, insurance companies, coal mines, steel plants, ports and dockyards. Schools and educational institutions remained closed at several places.

Indian Airlines unions observed a strike and a few flights operated by the Airlines was managed with the help of pilots and cockpit crew. He said there was no strike in Air-India. He said the strike was called to protest against the government’s economic policies, including closing down of sick public sector units, privatisation of the insurance sector and retrenchment moves. The strike was also to demand for an Agricultural Workers’ Bill to guarantee minimum wages and introduction of crop insurance.

"Today’s strike is not just a one off protest. It marks the heralding of a new phase of mass struggles which will be intensified further in the coming period," he said.

In the Capital, more than 50 Opposition members of Parliament gave an inspired start to the agitation by sitting on an hour-long dharna outside the main gate of Parliament.

Before both the Houses of Parliament assembled this morning, members from the CPI and CPM, Rashtriya Janata Dal, the National Conference and the AIADMK held placards displaying various slogans like "Bima Bill Vapis Lo" (withdraw the Insurance Bill), and "Stop service of the IMF and the World Bank". The Congress leaders, Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr P.J. Kurien and Mr P. Shiv Shankar also joined the dharna.

The Congress and the trade unions affiliated to it have kept away from the strike while some of the allies of the BJP like the AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal lent support to the agitation.

The impact of the strike spilled over in the Rajya Sabha in the morning and the House was adjourned without transacting any business amidst noisy scenes.

Members of the non-Congress Opposition parties demanded suspension of the question hour to discuss the strike.

A spokesman for the Bharatiya Janata Party later said that the strike was "uncalled for" and it was not in the interest of the working class. The BJP sympathises with the working class and recognises its difficulties, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu said.

The strike, however, evoked a mixed response in the Capital with business and commercial activities continuing without hindrance and city buses plying as usual. The schools were also open. Representatives of insurance and bank unions claimed that around 12 lakh insurance and bank employees participated in today’s general strike against the government’s "bankrupt" economic policies.

The strike was total in the LIC and the GIC with the field staff also joining it. The work of these institutions came to a grinding halt at Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kanpur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Indore, Bhopal and at all other centres.

The bank employees in the Capital also raised their voice against the Narasimhan Committee recommendations aimed at privatisation of the banking industry.

The NPMO convener, Mr N.K. Pandhe, alleged that at least eight persons were injured in police lathi-charge in the Okhla area in the Capital.

Processions were brought out and demonstrations held by activists of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Delhi State Kamgar Union, Inqlabi Naujawan Sabha and Delhi State Exporters and Dyeing Workers Union. Slogan shouting workers carrying placards, banners and flags took out processions in several parts exhorting their comrades to join the stir.

Activists of the AICCTU, All India Students’ Association, All India Progressive Women’s Association and the Revolutionary Youth Association blocked traffic at the busy ITO crossing and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Home Minister L.K. Advani and Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi.

Harish Sharma, General Secretary of the Bank Employees Federation of India (Delhi state), said in a statement that thousands of bank employees participated in the strike.

Thousands of employees of the Central Secretariat and allied offices held a ‘solidarity rally’ in support of the all-India strike.

Mr K.K. Sharma, Secretary of the Reserve Bank Employees’ Association, said class III employees of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) observed a total strike. They also held a demonstration in front of the RBI office.

The AICCTU General Secretary, Mr Dipankar Bhattacharya, said the central leaders of the council will meet in Kanpur on December 14 and 15 to chalk out agitational programmes for the next phase of the trade unions’ movement against the BJP government’s policies.

Basic services hit in Punjab
Tribune News Service and agencies

CHANDIGARH, Dec 11 — Services in the banking and insurance sectors was completely paralysed, while public transport and water and power supplies were partially hit today in Punjab amid peaceful rallies and demonstrations in response to the nationwide strike.

The bank establishments, with the exception of State Bank of India, and many insurance companies, including the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and General Insurance Corporation remained totally closed.

According to the Punjab police control room here, more than 50 per cent of public transport buses remained off the road in the state. The power supply was inadequate with 70 per cent failure in Moga, Faridkot and Fatehgarh Sahib districts, followed by 50 per cent in Patiala and Muktsar and almost 20 to 25 per cent electricity failure in the districts of Ludhiana, Ferozepore and Sangrur.

Leftists held rallies and demonstrations throughout the state with the support of public sector employees. There was no major untoward incident in any part of the state.

JALANDHAR: Functioning of most banks, LIC and GIC officers as also of Punjab Roadways remained paralysed, while a group of Marxist activists blocked traffic on the National Highway at Goraya briefly in response to the call for a nationwide strike given by non-Congress Opposition parties against the "anti-people and anti-working class policies" of the BJP-led coalition at the Centre.

Groups of employees belonging to public sector banks, except the State Bank of India, which functioned normally, and from LIC and GIC offices besides workers of the Punjab State Electricity Board marched to the Divisional Office of the LIC and held a 1000-strong protest rally against the "unprecedented price rise and unemployment" in the country.

Leaders of various employee organisations, mostly belonging to Left parties, spoke against the opening of the insurance sector to private Indian and foreign companies the "retrograde" provisions of the Narasimha Committee and privatisation of the power and transport sectors.

It was addressed by veteran Communist leader Jagjit Singh Anand and Punjab Kisan Sabha general secretary Lehmbar Singh Taggar.
A group of 200 persons, who blocked traffic on the four-laned National Highway at Goraya was led by Marxist leader Kulwant Singh Kanti.

Mr S.S. Kooner, president of the Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association, said if the Bill to throw open the insurance sector was introduced in Parliament on Monday, insurance employees would again observe a one-day strike on Tuesday, (December 15) and the stir further intensified on the issue.

Employees of Punjab Roadways, observed a strike at all depots here.

The employees are demanding that the August, 1990, transport policy be implemented and "corrupt" officials involved in scams immediately suspended.

The agitating employees also issued a warning that the state government should fulfil their demand on enrolment of drivers. They said the proposed bus stand management company limited should not be allowed and private transport plying illegally checked.

More than one lakh employees of the PSEB also observed strike. The PSEB Employees Struggle Committee convener, Mr H.S. Minhas, and co-convener, Mr Mukhwant Singh Sidhu, while warning the board management against privatisation of the board, said a struggle would be launched if the board did not heed to the "genuine" demands of the employees.

The employees are asking for bonus and enhancement of income tax slab for Class III and IV employees so that they may be exempted from tax.

LUDHIANA: Class III and IV employees of the Ludhiana Division of the Life Insurance Corporation observed a strike here. The employees gathered at the divisional office and raised slogans. A rally was held by them at Sham Nagar.

AMRITSAR: Local trade unions observed a strike in response to the call given by the central trade unions throughout the country. A trade union spokesman, Mr Amarjit Singh Assal, told newsmen here that all industrial and commercial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, the PSEB and roadways unions observed a complete strike.

Addressing a rally at Town Hall, veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang condemned the "anti-people" economic policies of the Central Government. He said there was no respite from the spiralling prices of essential commodities the country was being "plunged into a era of economic darkness".

Other leaders who addressed the rally were CPM leader Mangat Ram Pasla, Mr Vijya Mishra of the CITU and Bank Employees Union leader Ravi Raj.

The General Insurance Employees Association also observed a protest day against the introduction of the Insurance Regulatory Bill in Parliament allowing private participation in the sector.

Similarly, the Punjab and Sind Bank Officers Federation observed a daylong strike in protest against price rise, the entry of multinationals and the industrial policy of the Central Government.

BATHINDA: A large rally was organised by various trade unions in front of the PRTC workshop here. It was addressed by the CPM district secretary, Mr Darshan Mehraj, CPI district secretary, Jagjit Singh Joga, Mr M.M. Behal, secretary, BEFI, and Mr Ashok Sharma of the Punjab Bank Employees Federation.

In a press note, Mr Vinod Sharma, general secretary, Indian National Employees Federation, said the union had boycotted the strike as it was "not useful" for the employees.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Trade was hit in the industrial town of Mandi Gobindgarh as banking activity came to a halt in the district on Friday.

More than 200 employees gathered in front of the Sirhind branch of the Punjab National Bank and held a rally in support of their demands. Addressing the rally, Mr B.K. Jethi, zonal secretary, Punjab Bank Employees' Federation, said the stir was in protest against the Narsimhan and Malhotra Committee reports.

SANGRUR: The striking LIC employees along with bank employees staged an impressive rally outside the LIC office here.

HOSHIARPUR: Employees of banks, except the SBI, Life Insurance Corporation, General Insurance Corporation and Punjab Roadways observed a strike here.

They staged a rally at Phagwara road.

MANSA: In response to the call by the NPMO, the employees of the LIC, GIC and banks, except the SBI and IOB, struck work. Addressing a rally the speakers lashed out at the government for its efforts to privatise the banking and insurance sectors. Among those who spoke on the occasion were Mr Kuldip Singla, district secretary of the AIBA, Mr R.P. Goyal, central committee member, Punjab, and Mr Sham Lal, joint secretary, North Zone Insurance Employees' Association.

GURDASPUR: The strike call evoked a mixed response in the district. The strike was total in LIC and GIC offices. As many as 70 per cent employees owing allegiance to CITU observed strike at Ranjit Sagar Dam. Sixty per cent of bank employees also participated in the bandh. Employees of the State Bank of India did not join the strike. Batala Roadways depot employees observed a partial bandh. At least 60 per cent of the PSEB employees of the district also participated.

The district Bar Association unanimously decided to abstain from work except in cases of bail and stay. The association sent a draft of Rs 99/- as a goodwill gesture to Punjab to help restore its economy.

Operators of autorickshaws at Pathankot owing allegiance to CITU also participated in the strike. As many as 60 per cent labourers working in industries at Dinanagar owing allegiance to AITUC went to strike.

ROPAR: Mr Pardaman Singh, zonal secretary of the Punjab Bank Employees Federation, said here on Friday that the staff of all local bank branches, except the SBI, observed a strike which paralysed normal life.

A section of employees of the local Punjab Roadway depot also observed a strike. A large number of PSEB employees went on strike. The local unit of the All-Class IV Government College Mulazam Union staged a protest dharna.

Govt thwarts attempts to disrupt work
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 11 — Haryana Government offices remained by and large unaffected by the one-day strike call given by various trade unions and Left organisations, including the Haryana Sarvkaramchari Sangh today, according to reports received here.

However, the banking industry and the insurance sector were badly affected by the strike. Though officers in these sectors did not join the strike, no meaningful work could be conducted in the absence of Class III and IV staff.

Essential services like water and electricity supply and medical services remained uninterrupted. Buses plied normally. Rail traffic also remained unaffected.

Massive security arrangements had been made. Police was posted in strength outside strategic places. A resident of Kaithal remarked that but for the large police presence, everything was normal. In one Kaithal office of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, only three employees out of the total strength of 100 were absent.

Mr Jai Pal Singh, Station Supervisor, Haryana Roadways, Pehowa, told TNS that the first bus from the religious town left the bus stand at 4.40 am as usual. Magistrates accompanied the buses in the morning for some distance. A couple of employee leaders did visit the bus stand but they were whisked away by the police.

At Ambala too the attendance in the state government offices was almost normal. The city magistrate, Mrs Renu Phulia, said no untoward incident had been reported from anywhere.

An official spokesman said attendance in the Haryana Civil Secretariat here was 100 per cent.

According to police sources, about 200 persons were rounded up in the State as a precautionary measure. The Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) factory at Pinjore was closed after the employees went on strike.

The Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for not supporting the bandh, which, he said, was politically motivated.

YAMUNANAGAR: There was hardly an effect of the strike call in Yamunanagar district.

Mr Rajiv Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar said 7 CPI workers including Dr Karan Singh of Mustafabad had been arrested under Section 188 for violating Section 144.

The leaders of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, however, said the strike was successful. The strike was observed in offices of the Life Insurance Corporation and in the banks in Yamunanagar district.

A unit of Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association took out a procession and raised anti-government slogans. Employee leaders addressed a gathering at Nehru Park.

Mr R.S. Nandwani, Superintending Engineer (Operation) Haryana Vidyut Parasaran Nigam said that the total working strength of employees under Yamunanagar circle of HVPN is 2247. Of these 4 employees had already been arrested and one more employee, Mr S.K. Singla JE/Civil who was absent from the circle is reported to have been arrested at Bhiwani.

Excepting these five, no other employees was absent from duty or on tool down/pen down strike.

SONEPAT: Life in Sonepat city and elsewhere in the district was unaffected by the call for a day's strike given by Left parties and allied organisations, in protest against price-rise and deteriorating law and order.

All shops and commercial establishments functioned as usual.

The police arrested nine leaders of Haryana employees organisation. They are Sanjeev Kumar, Suresh Dahiya, Rajinder Singh, Bijrender Singh, Kanwar Singh, Prabhu Dayal and Katar Singh of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Board, Rajinder Singh from Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh and Ram Niwas of Sarv Kaamchari Sangh. The arrests were made under Section 107/151 Cr PC on the charge of breach of peace.

The Haryana Government has already invoked ESMA in a bid to stop its employees from participating in the strike. However, no arrest has been made under ESMA.

A small procession was taken out by industrial workers affiliated to CITU. Carrying placards and shouting anti-government slogans, the processionists passed through the main streets of the city. However, the police did not interfere.

KARNAL: State government offices here functioned normally while there was a total strike in banks and LIC offices here. The branches of nationalised banks other than the State Bank of India did not transact any business. However, there was no forcible closure of banks by employees here.

Attendance in the state government offices including the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Agriculture Department, Irrigation Department, SPs Office and HSEB was near-total as no employee was allowed any type of leave under instructions from the government.

The buses of Haryana Roadways from Karnal to other destination plied normally. Though, rail services between Karnal and Delhi were skeletal due to the damage to the track, there was no dharna on the railway tracks. The District Administration had deployed security at important water and power installations.

Both Mr M. Kithan, Deputy Commissioner and Mr Ajay Singla, SSP toured Karnal city and other towns to ensure that the strikers did not stop anybody from going to work. Mr Kithan claimed normal functioning of all offices in Karnal district. Reports from the adjoining cities of Nilokheri, Taraori, Indri, Gharaunda etc. indicated that state government offices functioned normally.

There was no strike in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research run institutes in Karnal.

Kurukshetra University, Vice-Chancellor M.L. Ranga claimed that the university functioned normally and attendance was total. The vice-chancellor visited various departments along with the Deputy Commissioner and SP Kurukshetra to ensure that employees coming to attend the university office were not stopped by anybody.

According to the leaders of the striking unions, the stand of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh to resort only to a 'pen-down' strike had affected the morale of the employees. A large number of who might otherwise, have struck work. This latest stand of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh has affected unity amongst various employees unions affiliated to it.

Official sources here confirmed the arrest of six employees of Haryana Roadways from Karnal Bus Stand.

FARIDABAD: The call for a strike evoked a poor response in Faridabad with no impact on essential services except banks and offices of insurance companies, where it was total.

Fifteen per cent of class III and four employees of the Telecom Department observed a pen-down and tool-down strike. Of the 2469 employees of the Vidyut Prasaran Nigam 15 were absent in Faridabad circles, according to Mr G.R. Sharma, Supdt. Engineer. Although a number of government employees attended office they did not work. Similar was the case in industrial units.

In Sarai Khwaja, police made a mild lathi charge to disperse CITU workers who were pelting stones at a factory.

ROHTAK: The one-day token strike, the call for which was given by the Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh and trade unions affiliated to Left parties, evoked a mixed response.

The state government offices functioned normally but no business was transacted in nationalised banks and LIC offices. While officers in banks and LIC officers attended duty as usual, class III and IV employees remained on strike in Rohtak and Jhajjar. The postmen of the main post-office also remained on strike.

All essential services functioned normally although power supply was disrupted at Jhajjar for over three hours in the morning. Rail traffic too was normal.

A section of students of Maharshi Dayanand University here raised slogans against the government and boycotted classes. However, there was no strike in the university college and other educational institutions in the district.

The police arrested eight Haryana Roadways employees who had gone to the bus stand with a view to disrupt bus services. Five others were arrested yesterday evening. So far over 20 employees have been arrested in Rohtak under Section 107/151 Cr PC.

The Jhajjar police also arrested nine employees who made an attempt to take out a procession. Eight of them have been booked under ESMA, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar said.

Defying prohibitory orders, over 250 workers in the unorganised sector like brickkilns and agricultural labourers and 'anganvadi' workers took out a procession through the city and raised anti-government slogans and criticising the economic policies of the Centre. The processionists held a brief rally at the Bhiwani stand and later dispersed.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Kumar said that participants in the procession have been video-filmed and action would be taken against the anganwadi workers.

The Deputy Commissioners of Rohtak and Jhajjar claimed that attendance in government offices, colleges and schools and Haryana Roadways depots was normal and no untoward incident has been reported from any part of these districts.

HISAR: The strike call given by the Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh failed to evoke any response in and around Hisar with all offices of the state government functioning as usual.

During a survey of various offices by this correspondent all the employees were seen working as usual.

One officer claimed that attendance today was more than normal. However, work remained paralysed in the central government offices, banks and insurance offices. Telecommunication Department employees, however, did not participate in the strike.

There was no impact of the strike on any of the essential services.

Work was seriously affected in post offices as most employees preferred to stay away from their duties. Similarly in the nationalised banks and the insurance offices attendance was negligible.

However, most branches of the State Bank of India functioned normally.

Meanwhile a spokesman of the HSKS Mr Ved Singh Munde claimed that although employees reported on duty. They did not work as they resorted to a 'pen-down' strike.

The spokesman said, two employees were hurt when the police resorted to a lathicharge on employees, counting arrest at the Old College grounds here. One of them, Jagdish, is reported to have suffered serious injuries.

Official sources confirmed the arrest of about 100 employees trying to disrupt work. Otherwise, the strike passed off peacefully.

Forty two employee leaders under judicial custody observed a hunger strike inside the Hisar central jail.