(REOPENS DEL36)

"We have called the strike for certain demands. Let us see what the government has to say and offer us. Let us see what does it think about our demands. Strike cannot be called off only on basis of a meeting with senior Ministers," Sen said. AITUC National Secretary Amarjeet Kaur also said that the unions are together in their call for the strike and all the decisions will be taken jointly. "Unions are firm on the strike. We are together on this. We want our issues to be discussed and settled permanently. So until that happens, there is no question of calling off the strike," she said. The Prime Minister had yesterday expressed confidence that the meeting of senior minister and labour union representatives will be positive. "I am confident that these discussions would result in a course of action that is acceptable both to the trade unions and the government," he had said. The strike has been called jointly by Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh (BMS), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) and other such organisations. The Independent Federation of Workers and Employees too has joined the protests.