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Two-day nationwide strike begins in India; Bengal, Kerala worst hit

The protesters got into the act across the state by blocking rail tracks, following which several trains were running behind schedule.

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The two-day nationwide strike called by various trade unions was near total in Kerala on Tuesday and has so far been peaceful.

Barring the BJP-backed BMS trade union, all other unions are protesting and calling for their demands, including a raise in minimum wages to Rs 18,000 besides raising the minimum pension wages to Rs 3000, amongst others.

At the stroke of midnight, employees attached to the Government Press took out a protest march.

The protesters got into the act across the state by blocking rail tracks, following which several trains were running behind schedule.

State-owned private buses and contract vehicles were all off the roads, but pilgrims to Sabarimala have been allowed to proceed from all places.

Private vehicles were however seen plying.

Banks, state and central government offices remained shut, but shops and establishments including hotels have opened in several parts of the state.

Workers at the Cochin Port and to the Cochin Export Processing Zone were stopped by the protesters.

All university examinations slated for the day have been postponed and educational institutions were also closed.

Senior CPI-M Rajya Sabha member and veteran trade union leader Elamaram Kareem told the media that the two day protest was in total in Kerala.

"The labourers at all the estates in the state are on strike. This is a protest against the wrong policies of the Centre and it should not be confused to that of a shutdown (hartal)," said Kareem.

The attendance at the State secretariat, the seat of power in the state, was more or less deserted, with attendance figures likely to be very poor.

Normal life partially hit in Bengal in trade strike
Rail-blockades in many railway stations and sporadic incidents across West Bengal districts partially hit normal life as the two-day nationwide strike called by central trade unions (CTUs) began on Tuesday.

Train services were disrupted both in Howrah and Sealdah division of the Eastern Railway and also South Eastern Railway.

The strike supporters put up rail blockades and clashed with the police in many stations in the suburbs in South 24 Parganas district's Lakhikantapur, Canning; North 24 Pargans' Madhaygram, Hasnabad and Barasat;

Agitators obstructed train movement in Hooghly's Rishra, Uttarpara, East Burdwan's Samudragarh, Birbhum's Rampurhat, West Burdwan's Durgapur in Howrah division of Eastern Railway and also at Uluberia in South Eastern Railway.

The CTUs have called the strike in protest against "pro-corporate, anti-national and anti-people policies of the BJP-led NDA government".

In Kolkata, though, many public and private buses were seen plying on the roads but strike supporters, who ransacked many buses and trucks, took out rallies at Jadavpur, Sovabazar and Sealdah area.

Taxis and autos mostly kept off the road and bulk of the shops remained closed.

State Minister and Trinamool Congress' Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said that the government would take all measures to maintain public utility services.

The state government has issued a circular stating its offices would remain open on strike days and no leave would be granted. It also urged banks, educational institutions including schools and colleges to remain open.

Additional police personnel have been deployed throughout the state to prevent any disruption or violence in connection with the strike.

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