As is the norm, Arun Jaitley
dismissed yesterday's nationwide strike.
PTI quotes him saying - 'Bharat bandh has marginal or inconsequential
impact.'
His reaction was on the expected
line. After all, a government is not expected to laud a protest event against
it - certainly not in the current political scenario prevailing in India. And
Arun Jaitely is one of its senior-most politicians and ministers.
But, then, let's look at what
reports basically said about yesterday's nationwide strike. Here are some
headlines.
The Indian Express - Bandh halts life, spurs violence
The Times of India - TU strike takes a toll on services; 1000 held as
Bengal turns warn zone
Hindustan Times - Trade union strike halts public transport, shuts
factories
Mail Today - Bengal worst hit as bandh slows down life
The Hindu - Strike hits banking, transport services
The Economic Times - Strike hits normal life, coal output; Violent
clashes in West Bengal
BBC News - Indian workers strike over Modi labour reforms
Reuters - Millions strike in India to protest against Modi's labor
reforms
AFP - In huge show of strength, lakhs of workers go on strike over
'anti-labour' reforms
CNNMoney - India's workers strike to challenge Modi
Wall Street Journal - India on Strike: In Pictures
These headlines, and many more,
tell what happened really, that, normal life was badly affected by the daylong
strike called by 10 central trade unions, many state level trade unions and
supported by unions of employees of banks and insurance companies.
Public transport was badly struck
in states like West Bengal, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, and also Meghalaya.
The Hindu said the 'shutdown
disrupted life and business in many states'. 'Banking, transportation, postal
and shipping services were the worst hit', the report wrote further.
The Indian Express reported the similar
outcome of the bandh - "a daylong
nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions on Wednesday disrupted
normal life in various parts of the country with coal production, banking
operations and transport services being hit the most. The day also witnessed
violent clashes in Odisha and West Bengal."
The Times of India observed the
same, and so the reports by other dailies and national and international news
agencies. Detailed articles carried essay sort of photographs that were
available to the camera lenses in plenty.
As most of the trade unions are
Left-oriented and as the RSS/BJP led Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh (BMS), a large
outfit, had walked out of the strike, a natural curiosity was about the extent
of the success of the bandh. And if we, indeed, see the daylong protest event
as a 'show of strength' as the Times of India wrote, it was totally successful,
even if it didn't prove out to be the largest one in the nation's history as
the unions had claimed.
If Delhi was any indication,
where normal life of citizens was badly affected due to non-availability of
transportation means on roads, we can gauge how troublesome the life would have
been for those in other parts of the country who would have chosen to venture
out or had to venture out on the day.
In many states, public
transportation means were completely shut. Activities like banking, insurance,
mining, shipping and even civil defence were struck by protesting employees or
by their 'absence'. Schools and colleges were closed on the day in some states.
Yes, we can say the 'September 2
Bharat Bandh' was traded well by the trade unions to 'show their strength'.
Protesters (and workers) bought the deal that was being promoted in the name of
opposing the reported anti-labour policy changes (proposed) of the government.
While we may debate on the nature
of our 'mixed economy, time's requirement and government's decisions (political
decisions) in that context', we need to accept that the Left-oriented trade
unions still hold sway over a larger sections of workers across the country even
if the Left-front political parties are fast becoming 'politically' obsolete in
India's politics.
That also gives them some points
to ponder over - that why is that happening?
©/IPR: Santosh Chaubey - http://severallyalone.blogspot.com/
