New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) Air traffic and financial services were badly affected across India today as over one million workers responded to a call for a 24-hour, nation-wide strike by leftist trade unions to protest the government's free market reforms.
The strike is meant to block moves by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government of Prime Minister Manmohan to privatise major airports and state-owned banks.
Demonstrators also oppose tightening hire-and-fire laws and foreign investment.
The unions' communist allies provide crucial parliamentary support to the government elected in 2004.
All domestic airlines were forced to cancel or curtail services on major national or international routes. Airlines like Jet Airways, Air Sahara and Indian Airlines cancelled many of their flight services to and from Mumbai, one of the country's busiest airports, whose terminal manages 500 flights every day. Kingfisher Airlines also curtailed daily services by 25 per cent.
Financial services and insurance companies across the country were also hit. The walk-out crippled all banking transactions, including clearance of cheques across the country.
Trade unions are scheduled to meet in the first week of October to work out a common plan of action if this strike does not achieve the desire goal.
Communist-ruled Kerala and West Bengal were hardest hit states.