Date:21/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082152630300.htm

Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM: The Left parties, the TDP and the Lok Satta Party claimed that the nation-wide strike called by central trade unions in protest against the “anti-people” policies of the Central and State governments was total in the district on Wednesday.

The political parties, barring the Congress and the BJP, took out a rally in support of the government employees and workers in the unorganised sector from the Fort to the RTC complex via NCS theatre and railway station road.

Spurt in prices

Addressing a gathering at the RTC Complex, P. Kameswara Rao, CPI district secretary, said that the spurt in prices of essential commodities was due to the “wrong policies” and “inefficiency” of the government The seizure of huge stock of paddy from hoarders by vigilance officials of the Civil Supplies Department was ample proof of the government’s mishandling of the crisis, he said. Managements of various colleges declared a holiday after the SFI and the AISF cadres enforced the strike.

Transactions in all banks branches were affected as employees participated in the strike to protest against privatisation, mergers and consolidation and unrestricted foreign capital in banks. Postal, BSNL and LIC employees too joined the strike.

Demonstration

State government employees, except gazetted officers, abstained from work and staged protest demonstration in front of the Collector’s Office. JACTO leaders V. Rajagopal and P. Ramachandra Rao demanded 40 per cent interim relief. M. Krishna Murty, CPI (M) district secretary, M. Srinivasa, CITU district secretary, and others spoke.

Srikakulam: Activists of several trade unions and members of political parties took out a rally as part of the nation-wide industrial strike. NGO Association State vice-president Choudhury Purushottama Naidu said that the right to strike should be preserved at any cost and in the context denounced the anti-working class measures being pursued by the Government. Some 1,000 activists took out a procession and shouted slogans against price rise.