Fourteen transporter associations and trade unions in Goa will ensure that the nationwide September 2 strike against central government policies will be total in the state, an union leader said on Monday, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to start listening to the "Mann ki Baat" of millions of Indians.
Addressing a press conference here, Suhas Naik, convenor of the Goa Convention of Workers and All Goa Transport Operators Associations, also said that strike had been called against the provisions of the proposed Road Motor Transport and Safety Bill, Foreign Direct Investment in retail trade, the National Democratic Alliance's tinkering with labour laws, etc.
"The PM was forced to concede his position vis a vis the land acquisition laws. Now it is time for Modi to listen to the 'Mann ki Baat' of millions of Indians and not vice versa," he said, referring to Modi's popular radio address.
"The Road Motor Transport and Safety will bring India's transport industry to a standstill and FDI in retail will kill small retail outlets across Goa and across the country," Naik said.
"This government should realise that the very slogan of 'Make in India' will have no meaning with such massive unemployment, joblessness and lack of purchasing capacity of common man," he added.
Urging residents of Goa to co-operate and ensure totality of the strike, Naik said that even essential services like milk would be difficult to obtain and that Goa may be left without power on September 2.
"We have electricity department workers from both Maharashtra and Karnataka joining the strike. Goa may be without power on September 2," he said.