New Delhi, February 19
The UPA government faces a major challenge as central trade unions go on a two-day nationwide general strike from tomorrow against its economic policies.

Gurudas Dasgupta, general secretary of CPI-affiliated All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), said the strike would affect the country severely, including the movement of oil and goods.

Over 50,000 workers of coal mines in Jharkhand went on strike from today and Mumbai is also beginning to see some shutdowns.

The government had formed a group of ministers to hold talks with the unions, but the talks failed yesterday.

“The Finance Minister was not present at the meeting and the government did not make a concrete offer,” Dasgupta added.

He questioned the intention of the government in resolving the issue by calling the unions for talks just 24 hours before the strike.

The government today appealed to the bank employees not to join the strike saying there was “really no reason” for them to go ahead with it.

“None of the main points contained in the charter of demands has any connection with the bank employees,” said a statement by the Finance Ministry.

Eleven central trade unions are participating in the general strike. The 10 demands of the unions include checking price rise, employment generation, halting disinvestment in public sector enterprises and implementing labour laws .

Industry chamber Assocham has estimated that country’s economy will take a hit of Rs 15,000-20,000 crore from the nation-wide disruption in economic activity.

Assocham said the strike would largely cripple the service sector such as banking, insurance and transport, besides industrial production.