Tomorrow’s all-India 24-hour general strike called by eight central trade unions has put the Left leaders of West Bengal in an awkward situation as it clashes with the Muslim community’s ritual during Ramzan fast.
Already, the Muslims have pointed out that the general strike will cause problem for them as shops and markets will remain closed. The poorer section of Muslims buys their provisions on daily basis and they will find it difficult to buy food for their Iftar feast. Keeping an eye on the assembly election in 2011, the Left has been desperately wooing the Muslims.
Already, the state government has declared 10% reservation in government jobs for the other backward classes (OBC) Muslims, and accordingly the chief minister has announced that the administration will start issuing OBC identity cards to 1.40 crore Muslims from September 22.
Now, the Left leaders have realised that by calling for a general strike on the eve of Eid, the major festival of the Muslim community, it had further caused heartburn among the minorities.
Thus, areas like Park Circus, Rajabazar, Watgunj, Garden Reach in Kolkata, parts of Howrah district, large areas of North and South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad and Malda districts will be kept out of the general strike.
The suburban trains and the Metro Rail have also been kept out of the general strike. But Citu state general secretary Kali Ghosh had difficulty in convincing that the measures taken by the trade unions would be enough to keep the normal life in those areas going smoothly. Abdur Rahaman Barkati, imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque, is not happy with this development. “Eid is just four days away. People would be busy now. What purpose the strike will serve at this time?” asked Imam Barkati.
The general strike has been called to demand that the price rise of essential commodities be contained through introduction of universal public distribution system and some other measures to protect labour interest in organised and unorganised sectors.