CITU calls transport strike in West Bengal on September 19

CITU on Wednesday called an indefinite taxi strike in the city from September 18 followed by a statewide total transport strike on September 19 against alleged police highhandedness.
"We have called for an indefinite taxi strike from September 18. And the next day (September 19) there will be a total transport strike across the state," Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) state president Shyamal Chakraborty told PTI. Asked to elaborate on the "indefinite strike call" he said the fate of the agitation depended on the state government's decision on their demands.

"The taxi strike will be for an indefinite period and will continue till we get a proper response from the government," he said. Apart from the proposed transport strike on September 19, there would also be road blockades and protest rallies in the city as well as the state, Chakraborty said. Claiming that all transport unions would participate in the September 19 strike, the CITU leader said if the police forced drivers to operate buses and taxis, the government would responsible for the "consequences".

"We will not allow a single vehicle to ply on the road on September 19. And if the police forces them to run buses and taxis, the consequences will be worse... the state government will be responsible for that," he said. Referring the state ministers as "thieves" for their alleged involvement in the Saradha scam, Chakraborty said "we will not sit for any meeting with any minister of this government."
Asked whether the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate would participate in the September 19 strike, president Sadhan Das said a final decision was yet to be taken in the matter.
"We have not taken any decision on this.. we need to discuss the matter," he said.

Earlier in the day, taxi unions including several transport workers affiliated to CITU, AITUC and INTUC participated in a rally from College Square to Esplanade. Later a five-member delegation of the unions met Governor K N Tripathy in this connection. "The Governor has listened to our grievances and has promised to look into the matter," INTUC leader Ramen Pandey said.

Besides fare hike, taxi unions are demanding that government drop legal proceedings against 450 taxis and halt slapping of Rs 3,000 penalty for passenger refusal. CITU is a national-level trade union which is politically associated with Communist Party of India (Marxist).