Members of the Indian National Trade Union Congress on Tuesday held protest inside Maidan metro station in Kolkata. Ten Central Trade Unions have called for a two-day nationwide strike for minimum wages and social security schemes among others. 

West Bengal: Members of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) protest inside Maidan metro station in Kolkata in support of the two-day nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others. pic.twitter.com/NkihQZRb0M

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

Thousands of workers on Tuesday gathered to protest against the central government policies. They are demanding minimum wages, social security schemes and no privatisation of public and government sector.

Karnataka: #Visuals from Hubballi of the 48-hour nationwide strike called by Trade Unions against Union government demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector pic.twitter.com/E2iji4zNzv

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

Bharat Bandh effect in Goa: Thousands of workers walked in a march in the Goa capital on Tuesday in support of the two-day nationwide strike called by ten central trade unions. However, normal movements remained unaffected in Panaji. Goa Convention of Trade Unions and Mass Organisations convenor Suhas Naik told PTI: "In Goa, we have decided to hold a rally on Tuesday and total bandh on Wednesday, which is different from the national programme." 

A two-day nationwide strike called by central trade unions on Tuesday evoked partial response in Tripura. The schools and government offices were largely functioning normally even as shops in parts of the state remained closed. PTI reports that vehicles were seen plying on roads in the state capital like any other day and banks and financial institutions were mostly open. Trains and long-distance buses also ran normally during the daytime.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) are demanding fulfilment of a 12-point charter of demands including inflation control, minimum wages, social security schemes, stalling privatisation of government enterprises, discontinuation of foreign investments in railways, banks and insurance sectors and jobs for unemployed youths among others.

The two-day nationwide strike called by various trade unions in protest against the Centre's anti-labour policies affected normal life in Odisha on Tuesday. Commuters were having a tough time finding buses and autorickshaws in several cities as protesters staged road blockade at various places. They also blocked tracks at several railway stations that affected the movement of trains in the state. Besides, many shops and business establishments remained closed at various places in the state. In view of the strike, the state government has declared closure of all educational institutions on Tuesday.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition Congress have extended their support to the strike.

In a tweet, the CPI(M) said: "The workers of Bengal are observing complete strike against anti working class policies of the BJP Govt. Say no such moves."

#WorkersStrike The workers of Bengal are observing complete strike against anti working class policies of the BJP Govt. Say no such moves. pic.twitter.com/sBVquQmsTd

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) January 8, 2019

Bharat Bandh: Two-day nationwide strike has affected the transport movement accross the state. Train services have been disrupted in Assam. PTI reports that trains were stopped in Thiruvananthapuram, Tripunithura, Shoranur railway stations in Kerala.

Ten central trade unions have called a two-day nationwide strike. Thsousands of people in Patna and Darbhanga of Bihar have come out on streets against the Modi government's policies. 

#WorkersStrike Photos from different Patna and Darbhanga in Bihar where thousands of people have come out on streets against anti labour, anti worker policies of the BJP Govt. pic.twitter.com/WfAifg944V

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) January 8, 2019

Two-day strike called by ten central trade union has disrupted the normal movements in Kerala. PTI reports that trains were stopped, buses and auto-rickshaws kept off roads in the southern state. Trains were stopped in Thiruvananthapuram, Tripunithura, Shoranur railway stations. All trade unions except the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh have supported the strike.

Several trade unions activists were arrested after incidents of vandalism were reported from parts of West Bengal. PTI reports that stones were pelted at a school bus in Champadali area of Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. The students were later deboarded from the bus. Strike supporters burnt effigies of Prime Minister Modi and burnt tyres in various parts of the state including Kolkata. 

The central trade unions have called for a two-day nationwide strike and different political parties including the ruling BJD have extended their support to the bandh. BJD's trade union front Biju Sramika Samukhya has supported the strike called by 10 central trade union organisations.

The two-day nationwide strike called by central trade unions have disrupted rail and road traffic in Odisha. Trade union activists blocked train services at many places including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Balasore, Jaleswar, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Paradip. About dozen trains were delayed due to blockade of railway tracks leaving passengers stranded at many places.

The two-day nationwide strike called by trade unions evoked mixed response in Karnataka on Tuesday. Karnataka State Road buses stayed off the roads in most parts of the state causing inconvenience to the people travelling to distant places. However, private buses, auto, taxi and metro services were available as usual.

Banking operations have been affected in some parts of the country as a section of employees refrained from work in support of the two-day strike. The bandh was called to protest against alleged anti-labour policies of the government. All India Bank Employees' Association and Bank Employees' Federation of India are also supporting the strike. However, the operation in SBI and private sector banks remained unaffected as other seven unions in the banking sector are not part of the strike.

The two-day nationwide strike called by central trade unions has kicked in the country. Speaking on this, Telangana CITU General secretary M Saibabu told PTI: "We expect over 20 lakh workers and employees of various private, government and unorganised sectors to participate in the 48-hour strike. Emergency service providers such as hospitals are exempted from the strike. Railway employees are not directly participating in the strike. But they will hold protest rallies at their respective offices during lunch hour."

Mumbai: Bus services affected at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station due to the indefinite strike by Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport over demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with the principal budget of the BMC.

Some incidents of vandalism have been reported from parts of West Bengal. PTI reports stones were pelted at a school bus in Champadali area of Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. Strike supporters also ransacked a government bus during the protest. They also vandalised a bus at Jamuria in Paschim Bardhaman district.

The state transport department has pressed 40 extra buses into service in Mumbai in the view of an indefinite strike by BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) over demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC.

A clash erupts between TMC and CPM workers in Asansol, West Bengal. The members from both the parties came face-to-face during 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes and against privatisation of public and government sector.

West Bengal: Clash between TMC and CPM workers in Asansol during 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector. pic.twitter.com/5oM6TWxnx7

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

The members of Central Trade Unions have blocked the National Highway 16 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. . Traffic movement has badly affected in Bhubaneswar. The protesters are demanding minimum wages and social security among others.

Odisha: Traffic movement affected on National Highway 16 due to protest by Central Trade Unions in Bhubaneswar. Their demands include minimum wages and social security among others., pic.twitter.com/chGKdZk3x3

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

The members of Central Trade Unions have blocked railway line in Howrah demanding minimum wages and social security schemes. Central Trade Unions have called a 48-hour nationwide strike over several demands.

Members of Central Trade Unions hold protests in Bhubaneswar. They are demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others. The protesters have blocked the commuters in the city. Central Trade Unions have called a 48-hour nationwide strike over several demands.

Kolkata Police have detained CPM workers protesting in support of 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions. Their demands include minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

Central Trade Union protests underway at Rupsa, Jaleswar and Datan in Bhadrak- Kharagpur railway section and Raghunathbari in Haldia railway section in West Bengal.

All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members hold protest in Delhi's Patparganj industrial area against privatisation of public and government sector and demanding minimum wages, social security among others.

All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members hold a protest in Delhi's Patparganj industrial area against privatisation of public and government sector and demanding minimum wages, social security among others. 

Around 29,000 employees of the civic run transport service BEST are on an indefinite strike beginning Monday midnight for various demands despite an industrial court restraining them from taking the step. Due to the strike, around 25 lakh passengers who travel by 3,000 BEST buses that ply on streets of Mumbai city and the metropolitan region every day will be inconvenienced.

Central Trade Unions have called a two-day nationwide strike demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others. In Guwahati, the workers halted a train and raised slogans against the Modi government.

Assam: Central Trade Unions have called a two-day nationwide strike demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others; Visuals from Guwahati pic.twitter.com/vbcQfCKk9m

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019