CPM bid to ensure partial strike on Feb. 21
Apparently worried that a 48-hour general strike in West Bengal would adversely affect the image of the party, the CPI(M) satraps have prevailed upon the organisers of the strike — central Left trade unions — to keep some sectors out of the purview of the strike on the second day. The decision was announced on the concluding day of the two-day CPI(M) state committee meeting in Kolkata on Friday.
The central Left trade unions have given a call for a nationwide two-day general strike on February 20 and February 21. The Left Front have already decided to extend support to the general strike. Even the CPI(M) state committee has appealed to the people to make the February 20-21 strike a success. However, it urged the trade unions to give relaxation in the strike on the second and final day: February 21.
The ostensible reason given in a statement issued by the CPI(M) state committee for the relaxation is February 21 being International Bhasa Diwas. “This strike has been called to protect the life and livelihood of the working class people and it has received huge support from farmers, farm labourers and other organisations. The state committee has appealed to the people to make it a success. However, for historical reasons, on February 21, the International Bhasa Diwas is celebrated with special importance in this state. Keeping in mind the programmes relating to the International Bhasa Diwas, some sectors have been kept out of the purview of the strike,” the statement elaborated.
CPI(M) sources, however, said that the real reason was that the party leadership was extremely perturbed that a 48-hour strike in Bengal — the first in nearly half a century — would prove counterproductive. “Lately, a large number of people who had deserted the CPI(M) in the last elections had slowly started returning to the party-fold after being disillusioned with the failures of the Mamata Banerjee government on all front. The two-day shutdown may send a wrong message to them and this will make it difficult for the party to regain its lost ground. It will also give a weapon to Ms Banerjee against the Opposition,” a CPI(M) leader said.
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