Left Front in Bengal to strike over diesel hike, FDI

Kolkata : Alleging that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has declared a war against people, West Bengal’s opposition Left Front Sunday called for a 12-hour strike to protest against hike in diesel price and allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.

“The central government has declared a war against people and we can’t sit idle. All Left Front partners have taken an unanimous decision to observe a general strike in West Bengal on Sep 20,” Bose said.

Beginning 6 a.m., the strike would continue till 6 p.m., Left Front chairman Biman Bose told the media here.

The strike in West Bengal would coincide with the country-wide protest called by the Left and other non-Congress parties Thursday.

The government Thursday announced a hike in diesel price by Rs.5 a litre and capped the supply of subsidised cooking gas cylinders per family to six per year. The next day, it decided to allow up to 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.

The strike called by the Left Front would be comprehensive and affect industrial and commercial establishments, offices, courts and markets across the state, Bose said.