Left listens to CM, no strike on price hike

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has his way as the Left Front, at its meeting today, decided not to go in for a general strike to protest against the fuel price hike.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has his way as the Left Front, at its meeting today, decided not to go in for a general strike to protest against the fuel price hike. ‘‘We do not have any intention to call a general strike, even though we will protest against the fuel price hike,’’ confirmed Biman Bose, chairman of the Left Front.

However, it was decided that the ongoing protests would continue till June 13. Campaigns against the price hike will be held from June 7-10. Rallies will be held at local market places on June 11.

On June 12, meetings will be held in front of factories and mills. And the next day, there will be meetings in front of offices of various oil companies.

Earlier, the CM had expressed his displeasure at the strike which was called by the Left trade unions on different issues. Both he and his wife, Mira, went to work on that day. In party circles, the CM has always tried to assert that strikes as a form of protest do not work any more.

At today’s emergency meeting, the Left Front chalked out how it intends to protest on the price hike. CPI(M) sources said that after the fuel prices were increased earlier this week, they were under pressure from a section of CITU leaders to go on strike.

The Politburo had already said earlier that the concerned State committee would finalise the form of the movement against the fuel price hike.

‘‘We want the entire hike to be withdrawn. If the government would have admitted to the loss in revenue then the hike would have been unnecessary,’’ said Bose. According to Bose, there are separate taxes for petrol and diesel — Rs 27 for petrol and Rs 13 for diesel, inclusive of central and State taxes and cess. The party is going to focus on these two things during its protests.