Bharat Bandh: All that you need to know

Pic for representational purpose only

Delhi: The country will witness a nationwide strike on September 02 called by central trade unions (CTUs).

Following are some of the facts related to the strike:

- The bandh is being held as ten central trade unions have decided to protest against changes in labour laws.

- They have also accused the NDA government of ignoring the rights of informal sector workers.

- The Bandh will cover all public and private sectors.

- But Railways is excluded.

- - Labourers in unorgainsed sector today extended their support to one-day nationwide general strike called by CTUs.

- Several outfits, representing the unorganised labourers have united under the banner of "Working People's Charter".

- The Pune-based 'Gharelu Kamgar Kruti Samiti' will join the bandh to protest anti-worker policies of the government.

- Gharelu Kamgar Kruti Samiti is a domestic workers' union.

- AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta was quoted by a Daily as saying that it would be a peaceful strike.

- The all-India strike was announced in July.

- The move was undertaken after talks between Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and 11 trade union leaders hit a roadblock.

- It was reported that the government agreed to some of their demands, However, the trade unions declined to called off the strike and said that the Centre had nothing tangible to offer.

- Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) employees will also join the strike.

- But Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will not observe the strike.

- The BMS is backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

- All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) also declared its support to the CTUs terming their stance as genuine.

- Meanwhile, government today said it does not see much impact on essential services even as it appealed to them to withdraw the call in workers' and the nation's interest.

- Government also indicated that talks with trade unions will continue.

- "I don't think essential services will be affected by the strike. I feel that the impact will not be much. I appeal to them to call off the strike in the interest of workers and nation," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told reporters.

(With Agency inputs)