The Left trade unions and the INTUC will jointly observe 24-hour strike on the day to protest against liberal economic policies followed by the Central government.

Dasgupta at a press conference in Kolkata on Wednesday said a loss of about Rs 6,000 crore was estimated while workers will lose wages worth Rs 500 crore because of the strike. Since a large number of workforce in the country is the worst victim of the neo-liberal policies adopted by the government, they will actively support the strike. At least 5 crore workers and employees will observe the day-long strike, said Dasgupta.

“We do not want to change the government. We want to force the government to change its policies,” said Dasgupta.

He said this is for the first time after the introduction of liberalisation in the country in 1992, the Congress-backed INTUC has joined hands with left trade unions to protest against the ‘anti-people’ policies of the Central government.

Though the BJP-backed trade union body the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has not decided to join the strike on September 7, they will not oppose it, said Dasgupta.

Sources said that while the call was for a nationwide strike, the Left parties expect a total bandh in three Left-ruled states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. However, they they have kept train and air services out of the strike.

“We can feel the problems of train and air passengers and so we have decided to keep these services out of the strike purview,” said Dasgupta.