24-hour transport strike in West Bengal to protest against fuel prices hike

Kolkata, June 26(ANI): Protesting against hike in prices of fuel, West Bengal's Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) called for a 24-hour transport strike in the state on Saturday.

Public transport, including buses, taxis, auto rickshaw, trams, tourist buses, mini buses and trucks are off the road.

"We are observing 24-hours transport strike in West Bengal today and demanding immediate reduction of all price hike of petrol, diesel, gas and kerosene," said Debanjan Chakraborty, Secretary of West Bengal State Committee of CITU.

Chakraborty, however, added that essential services like ambulances, railways and air services have been kept outside the purview of the strike.

The transport strike has brought normal life to a standstill for the daily commuters.

Condemning the strike, locals said that it was not the appropriate solution for fuel price hike.

"I had left home for going to work, but I am stranded here since a long time, more than half an hour. I have heard that there is a strike because the petrol, diesel prices have been hiked, which should not have happened. But I think strike is not a solution," said Susanta Saha, a local. (ANI)