Indian workers strike to protest strike ban

[dArKeR]

Millions of Indian workers went on strike yesterday in protest at a Supreme Court ban on strikes, shutting down government offices, schools and banks and hitting public transport.

Extra police were on the streets of major cities, but the impact of the action varied across the country -- hitting Calcutta and Mumbai worst and barely affecting the capital, New Delhi.

"The strike is total in banks and government offices. People have not gone to work," A.D. Golandaz, joint convener of Bombay's trade unions committee, said, adding several private companies were also hit.

Union leaders said 20 million workers were on strike across the country. Economists say the impact of the one-day strike would be limited and ports and airports were unaffected.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/02/25/2003100069

I have a question: If there was a Presidential Election in India and the candidates were
1. AWOL
2. Kerry
3. Nader
who would the Indian citizens elect to represent them?

[htuttle]

1. If you want any chance of getting a decent job again...

...support the Union movement in India.

Well, then probably on to China.

And then maybe somewhere else, too.

[Philosophy]

2. Unionization is punishable by death in China

Probably

[varun]

3. The Union movement...

...is quite stong in certain states of India...

especially W. Bengal and Kerela...both have left leaning state governments

[htuttle]

5. From what I've gathered...

...political tendencies in India seem far more diverse from state to state than they are between states in the US.

To me, the current national government in India seems somewhat right wing, but I'm not actually sure where they stand economically in terms of what's considered 'left' and 'right' here in the US. Seems like the right wing in Europe could be considered left wing here, for example.

[varun]

4. I am an Indian citizen (living in USA)

...and would choose Kerry.

However, likes of * can get votes by exploiting the religious / ethnic / caste/ language divisions...also the threat of constant war from Pakistan is not conducive to elect a left leaning govt (like Congress party) now.