NEW DELHI, Feb 18 – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on appealed to central trade unions to call off a two-day nationwide strike from Feb 20, Xinhua news agency reported. India’s 11 major trade unions are protesting against the government’s
“inaction” on price rise, disinvestment in public sector and alleged violation of labour laws.
“I appeal to the central trade unions to withdraw their call for a countrywide general strike on Feb 20 and 21. Such a strike would lead to avoidable loss to our economy and inconvenience to the public through disruption
of services,” the Prime Minster said in a statement. Manmohan said he would hold discussions with his key cabinet ministers which
“would result in a course of action acceptable both to the trade unions and the government”. India’s inflation rate stands at about 10 percent and the government has raised diesel and gas prices several times over the past one year.
BERNAMA
