Government's Warning Ahead Of Trade Unions' 24-Hour Strike

The government has warned central trade unions of "consequences" if they go on a proposed 24-hour nationwide strike starting 6 am Wednesday. Around 25 crore workers are expected to participate in the strike which has been called by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) to protest the "anti-labour policies" of the BJP government and press for demands like fixed minimum wage and equal wage for equal work. At a press conference held yesterday, which was attended by at least nine other organisations - except the BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh - CITU claimed the centre's policies and labour laws had affected 80 crore people - in both organised and unorganised sectors - and also said the country was going through a "major crisis".