Kolkata, 9 July (H.S.) -

The nationwide strike called by central trade unions received overwhelming support in West Bengal, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) claimed on Wednesday. Backed by various Left parties, the strike reportedly witnessed significant participation from workers across banking, insurance, transport, and industrial sectors.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Kolkata, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim said, “The working class responded to the strike in an unprecedented manner.” He alleged that workers participating in peaceful demonstrations were subjected to police violence and illegal detentions across various locations in the state.

Salim further accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the West Bengal Police of playing a shameful role in trying to sabotage the strike. “This strike was against the anti-people policies of the central government, but it was the state government that appeared more eager to crush it,” he said.

He went on to allege that the TMC government acted under pressure to appease their ‘masters’ in Delhi, suppressing democratic protest through undemocratic means. “What we witnessed today was an assault on the very idea of peaceful dissent,” Salim remarked.

Despite the state government's efforts to operate additional government buses, the CPM leader claimed that most private buses and public transport remained off the roads, reflecting the strike’s wide impact.

Mohammed Salim also announced that the CPI(M) and its allies would hold protest demonstrations across the state over the next three days to condemn the alleged police atrocities during the strike.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh