Left strike paralyses Tripura

Calcutta News.Net
Wednesday 20th August, 2008 (IANS)

A nationwide general strike called by Left trade unions to protest the India-US nuclear deal and rising prices Wednesday brought life to a halt in Tripura.

'The strike was total with people expressing their agony against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government's decision to go ahead with the nuclear deal and failure to check inflation and price rise,' said Pijush Nag, joint convener of the National Platform of Mass Organisation (NPMO).

The strike call was given by the National Platform of Mass Organisation (NPMO), which comprises of seven Left trade unions, including the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) affiliated Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) affiliated All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

Over 1.2 million employees and workers took part in the shut-down in the northeastern state.

Most markets, shops and business establishments, government and semi-government offices, educational institutions, banks and financial institutions remained closed in the state. Roads were deserted, and rail and air traffic services were disrupted.

Bus services between Tripura and Bangladesh and other northeastern states were cancelled.

The government-run carrier Alliance Air and other private airlines either cancelled or rescheduled many flights in the Agartala-Kolkata-Guwahati-Silchar routes.

'The strike is peaceful across the state and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere,' said police spokesman Mayajoy Rupini.

Examinations at educational institutions, including Tripura University, have been deferred in view of the shutdown.

'The country is facing an unprecedented crisis and people from all walks of life and cutting across political affiliation now came together to fight against the UPA government and its wrong anti-people policies,' said Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

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