GUWAHATI: As part of the protest against diesel price hike, cap on subsidized LPG cylinders and FDI in multi-brand retail and aviation, opposition NDA and Left parties have geared up for Thursday's protest and strike in the northeast.
While the BJP-led NDA will hold a nationwide protest on Thursday in protest against the Centre's decision to hike diesel price and allow FDI in multi-brand retail, the seven Left and democratic parties have called for a "hartal".
The strike is expected to affect normal life in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Left-ruled Tripura. The Left Front in Tripura has called a dawn-to-dusk general strike on Thursday. The CPM has launched a massive campaign in favour of strike for the last two days saying the Centre has surrendered to the US by allowing investment in all vital sectors that would make 50 Lakh Indian families jobless, said CPM secretary Bijan Dhar.
"The Left parties have been opposing the so-called strategic alliance in defense, investment sector and aviation of UPA government since long but in the end, the Monmohan Singh has succumbed to US pressure," added Dhar.
The BJP, on the other hand, is hoping for a successful protest and the saffron party is banking on the support of traders' community. The small traders, who will be affected by the entry of multinational stores, are usually a strong support base of the saffron party. The BJP has criticized the Centre's decision on FDI in multi-brand retail saying it was a ploy to deflect attention from the government's failure to check price rise and corruption, particularly the Coalgate scam.
In Assam, over three lakh small traders will observe protest against the center's decision to allow 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail by observing a dawn to dusk bandh. General secretary of All Guwahati Traders' Association (AGTA) Prantosh Roy said the government's move will help the foreign companies to establish their monopoly in Assam, which will devastate local and small traders.
"After the arrival of retailers like Walmart in Guwahati, small traders will be worst hit as foreign companies will rule the markets. With huge investments, foreign stores will buy the products at the source and local traders will be left in the lurch," said Roy.
He alleged that to cover up its failures, the Congress-led government in Assam has welcomed Walmart in Assam. The All Assam Textile Merchants' Association, Greater Guwahati Fair Price Dealers' Association and Brihattar Guwahati Pan Dokan Byabasayi Santha has also supported the strike.
In Manipur, the CPI, along with the trade unions, has called the general strike. A statement by CPI Manipur state council said increase in fuel price also shoots up transportation and freight charges up to 15 per cent. The CPI said this will have a huge impact on middle class families and daily wagers.
"The increase in fuel price will affect people in the northeast more as the only means of transportation is road transport," the CPI added.