Normal life affected due to Left Trade Unions strike

New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) Rail services were virtually paralysed in West Bengal, Kerala and Punjab and ports in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Kochi remained closed while banking and insurance activities came to a halt throughout the country as trade unions affiliated to the Left parties went on a 24-hour strike to protest against the economic and industrial policies of the UPA government.

Talking to UNI, Mr Pandhe, who is also the Polit Bureau member of the CPI (M), said shopkeepers also joined the All India general strike at most places in Maharashtra.

The protestors under the banner of the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions comprising CITU, AITUC and HMS and others are demanding the implementation of their 16-point charter of demands which asks for legislation to protect 370 million people in the unorganised sector, checking violation of labour laws and stopping the move to disinvest profit making PSUs and a comprehensive legislation for agricultural workers, among other things.

Postal services remained paralysed while the operations in as many as 39 Ordnance factories and coal mines remained closed, Mr Pandhe said quoting initial reports from various parts of the country.

Stating that more than 50 million people joined the general strike, the Left leaders said the employees in the pharmaceutical sector also refrained from work.

The CITU chief said shopkeepers also joined the protest against the government's decision to allow FDI in the single band retail sector.

EDS: Pls pick up suitably from related series.

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