Mamata calls on people to foil strike

Apologising for calling strikes and shutdowns during her days as an opposition leader, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday appealed to people to foil the industrial strike called for today, and assured that the government would take stringent action against those who tried coercive methods to implement the strike.

"We (Trinamool Congress) had earlier done the same mistake by calling for strikes and shutdowns. We later realised that a problem cannot be solved by calling a strike. In the last two years, we have not called a single strike," said Banerjee in an interview that was telecast on three Bengali news channels.

"We committed a mistake and have rectified it. We think the people have forgiven us for our mistake. I appeal to the masses of my state not to respond to this strike. A strike will rob daily labourers of their earnings," said Banerjee.

Even as she assured people that government had taken necessary steps to keep trains, trams and buses running, Banerjee accused the Left parties for calling the strike to demonstrate their political clout.

"If any government staff takes part in the strike, then the government will take steps. All government employees should attend their respective offices. The former Left Front government used to help in making the strike a success. But we will not do it," said Banerjee.

Eleven central trade unions, including INTUC, BMS, CITU, AITUC, UTUC, AIUTUC, HMS, TUCI and NLO would participate in today's general shut-down, with demands for controlling the rise in prices of essential commodities and creation of more employment opportunities.