The 12-hour strike called by the joint forum of trade unions in north Bengal on Wednesday, demanding declaration of minimum wages for tea garden workers, created ripples both inside and outside West Bengal Assembly.
The general strike evoked good response in north Bengal where shops and financial establishment remained closed. Former Urban Development Minister Asok Bhattacharya and many senior Left leaders were arrested in Siliguri while participating in a rally in support of the strike.
The arrest triggered protest by the Left Front legislators in the Assembly demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement.
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If the State government suppresses strikes and agitation it will have to be prepared to face bigger strikes, Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said.
Senior Congress MLA Manas Ranjan Bhunia said the Chief Minister should sent the Labour Minister to north Bengal to tackle the issue.
The Speaker, Biman Banerjee, said Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak will give a statement on the issue on Thursday.
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Meanwhile, trade union leaders who had called the strike said described it has huge success.
“The two day strike, strike in tea gardens on Tuesday and 12- day general strike in north Bengal on Wednesday has generated much enthusiasm among the people. It has created an awareness about the rights of tea garden workers,” Debjit Dutta, the spokesperson of United Tea Workers Front ( UTWF) said.
The strike was organised by 23 trade unions of tea workers which have been demanding declaration of minimum wages in the sector. Several political and apolitical groups participated in the strike. The Tea garden workers in Dooars get wages of Rs 95 a day while in Darjeeling they get Rs 90.