Union leader Sharad Rao calls for bandh on Feb 20, 21

Union leader Sharad Rao has called for a 'bandh' on February 20 and 21. This time, he claims, that not only autorickshaws but also hawkers and BEST bus unions will be part of the shutdown.

Union leader Sharad Rao

He made this announcement at a press conference saying all essential services including trains, buses, autos, taxis, water, shops and hawkers will be shut for two days. He claimed that almost 20 lakh workers from Mumbai and 1 crore from Maharashtra are taking part in this 'bandh'.

Sharad Rao said, "Enforcing minimum wage of Rs 10,000, strict enforcement of labour laws, recognition of trade unions in all establishments, same wage for contract workers, implementing the policy on hawkers, effective steps to control inflation are basic demands which we want to fulfilled without delay."

He added, "Before deciding the 'bandh', we have had considerable meetings with the unions and employees of municipal corporations, BEST and state transport, autorickshaw and taximen, hawkers, retail and wholesalers."

He also claimed that they had ample presence in aviation and railway unions so as to ensure their participation in the shutdown.

He said, "Our workers will lay down on railway tracks and do satyagraha."

Meanwhile, railway officials claim that nobody would be allowed to take law into their own hands.u00a0