VIJAYAWADA:The main thoroughfares in all the cities and towns across the state wore a red hue, with the Left party activists and trade unions marching the roads denouncing the anti-workers’ policies of the Central government, as part of general strike on Wednesday.
Decrying the proposed amendments to the Labour Act and, privatisation of public sector units and government organisations, 10 Left parties called for the general strike on Wednesday. In response, the workers in government-owned steel plant, shipyard and HPCL in Visakhapatnam, jute mill in West Godavari and other organisations across the state boycotted their duties. Extending solidarity, bank and insurance employees also kept away from the work. Huge rallies were taken out in different cities.
In Vijayawada, CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna and CPM state secretary P Madhu led the protest rallies and staged demonstration at the Sub-Collector’s Office. There were no buses and auto-rickshaws in the morning at most of the places and the services got resumed only in the evening in many places across the state. Passengers at both railway and bus stations, who were unaware of the strike, were caught off guard and subjected to severe inconvenience.
Tense situation prevailed for some time in Kurnool and Visakhapatnam when the agitating workers tried to stop the RTC buses from leaving the depots. Heated argument ensued between both the parties leading to push-pull situation. Several protesters were taken into custody by the police. AIYF, AISF, SFI and other frontal organisations of Left parties also joined the strike.
Addressing the meetings organised at various places, the Left leaders denounced the anti-workers’ policies of the government and called upon on unity among the workers to fight for safeguarding their future.