CPM: Bandh success not our aim

TT, Calcutta, Nov. 27: The Bengal CPM has said its target is not to make Monday's strike a "success", an unusual declaration that suggests the party has realised its call is not making much headway on the ground.

"Our target is not to make the strike a success. We might be a lone voice but it is important to raise it at this juncture," CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra told a news conference at the party's Alimuddin Street headquarters.

The CPM has called a 12-hour general strike from 6am on Monday to protest the way the Narendra Modi government has been implementing the demonetisation.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is at the forefront of the campaign against the note recall, has rejected the bandh call on the ground that it would inconvenience citizens who are already grappling with the fallout of the demonetisation.

But Mamata herself will be leading a protest programme in the heart of Calcutta around noon, which is expected to throw traffic out of gear even if the effect of the CPM bandh call turns out to be minimal. The Congress too will stage a protest on Monday.

From the administrative side, the Trinamul government has announced that more state buses would ply than on usual weekdays.

Metro Railway and airlines are scheduled to follow their normal schedule. Most private buses, taxis, app cabs and autos are likely to ply if there is no violence. Some schools like Modern High School for Girls will be closed but most educational institutions will be open. 

Banks, ATMs, post offices, hospitals, medical centres, ambulances and other essential services have been kept out of the purview of the strike, called by the CPM and 17 other parties.

Mishra today sounded apologetic about the strike call and hinted that the party had been unable to convince the people that such a form of protest was needed in the middle of the cash crunch.

"I'm aware that many people with good sense are still confused about the logic behind our call for a hartal. We consider such a call very important to draw the public's attention and pressure the Centre into accepting our demands," Mishra said.

The Left has been demanding that the old 500 and 1,000-rupee notes be allowed to be used till enough new currency notes are in circulation.

The CPM and its wings once used to go all out to make bandhs a "total success". However, after suffering one blow after another at the hustings over the past few years, the enfeebled party has been unable to enforce its writ.

An all-India strike call on September 2 had evoked a tepid response despite a sustained campaign by the Left in the state.