Strike call gets good response in Dharwad

The nationwide strike call given by central trade unions got a good response in Dharwad on Thursday.

Hundreds of employees from state government departments, LIC, GIC, nationalised banks and other organisations participated in the protest demonstration held in front the LIC divisional office.

Work at banks and insurance offices was paralysed following the strike. Insurance Employees Union general secretary B N Poojary, state government employees federation secretary Gurumurthy Yaragambalimath, Stephen Raj of AIBEA, Lingaraj Angadi of Karnataka University College Teachers' Association, Sattigeri of All India Insurance Employees Association and Basavaraj Ningappanavar of Gram Panchayat Workers' Union addressed the rally. However, the Karnataka State Government Employees' Association did not support the strike.

The strike call was to press for demands, including improvement of the public distribution system, separate legislation to protect labourers in the unorganised sector, withdrawal of Banking Regulation Act among others.

The trade unions have also opposed foreign direct investment in telecom, defence, banking and insurance sectors.

The strike did not affect transport and other essential services.