Won't allow any bandh in Bengal on Sept 2: Mamata

PTI | Kolkata | 26 August, 2016: In a stern message to the central trade unions (TUs), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said her government would not allow any bandh in the state on September 2, when the TUs have given a call from a general strike. 

"We will not allow any bandh in the state on September 2. We will keep everything open. Vehicles will ply and shops will open. If vehicles and shops are damaged (by bandh supporters), we will take strong action. We will also give compensation," she told a meeting of the students wing of her party here. 

"If they (central TUs) want they can go to Delhi and stage dharna to register their protest," she said. 

The central trade unions have given a call for a country-wide general strike on September 2 to protest against the "anti-people, anti-national and anti-worker" policies of the NDA government at the Centre. 

In July, INTUC president G Sanjeeva Reddy had stated he would urge Banerjee to allow Trinamool Congress' trade union wing to participate in the strike