The strike has been particularly successful in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, W.Bengal, Bihar, UP, MP, Rajasthan, Orissa and Haryana the success ranged between 90% to 100%.

In other states the extent of participation varied . The employees also held demonstrations in several state capitals and other places. All administrative offices, state undertakings came to standstill due to the all-out strike, from capital cities to block level. The schools remained fully closed in the states as the teachers joined the strike.

In Haryana, in order to foil the strike, the Bansilal-BJP state Govt has resorted to repressive methods and arrested State employees under MISA the leaders of electricity board and other corporations. The Govt even threatened that the striking employees will be videotaped and punished. Despite the repressive tactics the employees strike went successfully. In Assam also employees’ leaders were arrested, but later released.

The strike is an indignent protest against the Central Govt’s devastating economic policies at the dictate of IMF and World Bank, leading to abnormal and unprecedented price rise, retrenchment, privatisation, closure and formidable unemployment. The strike is also a loud protest against the communal policies of the BJP-led Government in all spheres of education and social life.

The All India State Government Employees Federation warns the BJP-led Central Government and other protagonists of the so-called economic reforms to take appropriate lessons from the angry mood of the working people manifested in this strike and take immediate steps to reverse its disastrous policies. Otherwise the struggle will assume a wider and more vigorous and militant shape.

The federation warmly congratulate the state employees, teachers and other sections of the workers and employees for making the nation-wide strike a challenging success.

(Sukomal Sen)
General Secretary

CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc salute the millions of people throughout the country who participated in the all-India general strike and hartal protesting against the disastrous economic policies being pursued by the BJP-led government at the Centre.

By all accounts, this mass action constitutes the broadest and the biggest of such actions in independent India. In many parts of the country, like Tamilnadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Tripura, Assam, Bihar etc, industrial activity came to a grinding halt paralysing normal activities. Such was the impact that in many parts of the country, train services and flights did not operate. All the major ports of the country, banks and insurance and other financial institutions remain closed. The public sector workers observed the strike in a large number in protest against the policies of the unbridled privatisation.

Unable to face any further agony and erosion of their livelihood, the working class was joining by its brethren in rural India through actions like `rasta roko', `kacheri jam' etc.

That such a massive action took place despite repressive measures and intimidatory arrests like in Haryana reflects the widespread anger and indignation of the people against the present BJP-led government. Reports of arrests and intimidation have come from various states like Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi etc.

Left parties while expressing complete solidarity with the National Platform of Mass Organisations, warns the BJP-led government that the people of our country will not tolerate the loot of our economic assets being permitted through policies of privatisation and liberalisation. The Left Parties demand that the government heed the voice of the nation and withdraw the proposed Bill to privatise the insurance sector including foreign participation, to reverse the unbridled privatisation of the public sector and refrain from pushing through the patents amendments Bill which will severely jeopardise India's economic sovereignty.

The meeting was attended by Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), A.B. Bardhan (CPI), Debbrata Biswas (Forward Bloc) and Abani Roy (RSP).