A nationwide strike called by India's trade unions to protest the government's economic policies disrupted transport, banking and industry Wednesday as sporadic incidents of violence were reported. Eleven unions affiliated with major political parties were protesting rising prices; the alleged violation of labor laws; the opening of the retail, insurance and aviation sectors to foreign investment; and the sale of state assets. BN Roy, general secretary of the country's largest trade union 'Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh,' said up to 100 million employees in the banking, transport, insurance, coal, petroleum and defence sectors would stay away from work for two days. Transactions at state-run banks were paralyzed while thousands were stranded as buses, taxis and auto rickshaws did not run in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, as well as the national capital, New Delhi, broadcaster NDTV reported. Road transport, offices and factories were also hit, and educational institutions remained shut in states such as Kerala, where the unions are powerful. The financial capital of Mumbai remained largely unaffected as the main trade union there did not join the strike. A union worker was crushed to death when he tried to stop a bus from running in the northern city of Ambala, the IANS news agency reported. Some clashes were reported from New Delhi, where activists beat auto-rickshaw drivers. The unions ignored Premier Dr. Manmohan Singh's appeal to call off the strike. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India estimated the strike would cause a loss of 200 billion rupees ($3.7 billion) to Asia's third-largest economy. After months of policy inaction, Singh's government has initiated reforms and cut fuel subsidies to revive growth, which is projected to fall to 5 per cent this financial year, which ends March 31, the lowest pace in a decade.
