Claiming that “there is no bandh” in West Bengal on the day of the all-India general strike called by 11 recognised trade unions, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here on Tuesday that her government has restored a “work culture” in the State.
“There is no bandh. Everything is open,” Ms. Banerjee said, adding that “there has been 98 or 100 percent attendance in government offices” during the day.
Lauding the efforts of government and the administration in ensuring that “West Bengal was peaceful” on the day, she said that those who believe in politics which is “obstructive, cheap and destructive” will now have to rethink the decision to call a strike “ten times over”.
Ms. Banerjee said that the “unique combination of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), their friends (an oblique reference to the Congress) and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) had called this strike.”
“Already 14 strikes have been called on this issue…..It is as if they are incapable of a political existence without calling bandhs,” Ms. Banerjee said.
She added that the issue of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector – also among the charter of demands of the organisers of the strike – “I have already resolved.”
Ms. Banerjee said that the State is always criticised for its work culture, but the day had proved that this was not so.
“My employees are good. It was only the leadership for the last 34 years that was wrong. A proper work culture has been restored to the State on this historic day,” she said.
