"All industries are closed. All transports are closed.... Nothing is running," Harish Trivedi told CNN news April 25, about the effectiveness of a one-day strike by millions of unionists across the state of Maharashtra. Trivedi is the president of the Maharashtra Indian National Trade Union Congress.
The one-day stoppage, initiated by unions and a number of political parties "to condemn the economic reform policies" of the government, "received a total response in Maharashtra," according to the India Daily. "Normal life in Maharashtra came to a grinding halt today."
According to the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), the federal government has taken steps to "amend labor laws and privatize state-owned industries." The measures include "plans to make it easier for loss-making companies to fire workers, reduce economic subsidies, and allow more business to employ contract labor." The government is also moving to ease restrictions on imports. Farmers producing for the local market see their livelihoods under threat from the latter policy.
"The new economic policies of the government have affected everyone. The working classes will be reduced to nothing if we don't protect ourselves," said Trivedi.
The strike had a big impact on Bombay, a fast-growing city of 18 million people and the country's financial center. "More than 60 percent of factories in Bombay and surrounding areas have been shut down," one union official told the BBC. "Taxis and buses were not running. Factories and other industry was frozen." The strike and associated protests affected train services, and forced the rescheduling of many flights.
Even the U.S. consul in the city, David Good, acknowledged the widespread support for the action. Using the common word for strike, he said, "I think the bandh has been pretty effective."
The government stationed police at Bombay's railway stations and bus depots, claiming that they were necessary to deter violence. Many strikers were detained.
The nine political parties joining the strike call covered a wide spectrum, from the right-wing, Hindu nationalist Shiv Shena party to several with links to the labor movement.
"There will be a loss of 4 billion rupees (US$85.4 million) in Bombay alone," complained P.N. Mogre, secretary-general of the Indian Merchants Chamber, on the day of the strike. Zubin Kabraji of the Confederation of Indian Industry advised workers that "you can't run away from changes in labor laws, and there are better ways to negotiate deals than to shut down a city."
CNN reported strike organizers "have considered a broader strike possibly nationwide, but have no timetable."