The strike, called by unions which claim 250 million members, disrupted public transport, public-owned banks and some auto-industry factories across several states. They also fired tear gas and baton-charged other protests in the eastern state, where many roads and railway lines were blocked. Ten unions called the one-day strike to oppose what they called the “anti-worker and anti-people policies” of right-wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some workers at state oil and coal firms, as well as motorbike makers Honda and Bajaj Auto, also joined the strike. “The attitude of the government is that of contempt towards labour,” said the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, one of the groups organising Wednesday’s strike.

Source: The Guardian January 08, 2020 14:03 UTC