Kolkata, Feb 28 (IANS) Hailing the impact of the countrywide general strike in West Bengal, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) — the labour arm of the Communist Party of India-Marxist — Tuesday called Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a “liar” for denying that the stir was a grand success.
“She is a liar. She is lying to the masses. If she had been truthful, she would have allowed the media persons to take photographs regarding the attendance of government employees inside the (state secretariat) Writers’ Buildings. We congratulate the masses of Bengal for this grand success,” said state CITU president Shyamal Chakraborty.
Banerjee had claimed that the nationwide general strike called by 11 trade unions has not been able to garner good response in West Bengal and that the strike has been a failure as the common people of the state have not responded to the call.
She had said some departments at the secretariat had recorded 100 percent employee attendance Tuesday.
“Against all odds people have participated in this strike. The government employees were threatened that if they participate in the strike, then there will be break of service. But notwithstanding such threats, there has been a very good response,” said Chakraborty.
The striking trade unions include the left labour arms CITU, AITUC, UTUC, AIUTUC and Congress trade union wing INTUC, besides the BMS, HMS, TUCI and NLO, which have joined forces in support of a ten-point charter of demands.
Chakraborty, a CPI-M central committee member, along with the representatives of other striking trade unions alleged that the government along with the Trinamool Congress supporters has perpetuated violence and force at various parts of the state to foil the strike.
“The teachers, ICDS workers, bus drivers and many others have been threatened with dire consequences if they don’t come to office and run busses. This thing has never happened in the state,” he said.
Chakraborty alleged that Banerjee’s u-turn on strikes and shutdown is surprising as she herself has been a champion in calling strikes and shutdowns during her days as opposition leader.
