A strike in India involving at least 800,000 people protesting rising prices and proposed sales of stakes in state-run companies began on Tuesday, according to local NDTV channel.
The Cabinet of Ministers under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh previously initiated an extensive campaign to sell the state stakes in order to reduce the budget deficit. The protesters also demand action to rein in inflation and improve labor laws.
The strike has the support of 11 Indian central trade unions, each with at least 400,000 members, and a large number of smaller labor unions.
The operation of the Indian mail, ports and other transport infrastructure, as well as the work of banks, are expected to be hardest hit by the labor action.
According to local media, the largest number of strikers will be in the states of West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala, where the influence of leftist parties in India is strong.
