Strike called by trade unions a flop: BJP

BJP today claimed that workers have rejected the strike called by various trade unions and said it was "politically motivated" even as it credited the government for its "pro-workers" and liberal measures taken for their welfare and development.

"I am glad that workmen have rejected the strike call because of the pro-workers approach of the government and the liberal measures it has taken for their benefit.

"I congratulate the workmen of India for the positive attitude they demonstrated today," BJP leader and Union Minister for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal said.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu termed the strike as "totally illogical" saying the trade unions have not appreciated the "pro-worker" initiatives of the government.
 

"Today's strike by some trade union is totally illogical. The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi inherited a derailed economy and making sincere efforts to consolidate it. Some trade unions instead of being constructive or resorting to obstructive ways.

"Instead of appreciating this, unions have preferred to go on strike. It is time for unions to revisit their thinking and approaches in the context of challenges before the nation," Naidu said in Chennai.

BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said the strike has been a "flop" and a "total failure" as no pro-worker initiative was taken by the previous Congress-led government.

"The strike call given by various trade unions was politically motivated by the Congress, who have nothing else but criticise the government on every issue. The workers are happy with Modi government's efforts for welfare of workers. The anti-worker Congress has not done anything for workers," he said.

Goyal said he collected feedback from across the country and the strike call made "little impact".

He claimed the workers have appreciated the steps, including a 42 per cent hike in the minimum wages, taken by the government in their interests.

Normal life in several parts of the country was affected today by the one-day nationwide strike by trade unions with public transport, banking and mining being among the most-hit, while protesting workers were detained in Haryana, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

The central trade unions claimed the strike was successful as around 18 crore workers came on streets to support the agitation, despite only partial impact in some states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.