Rejecting the government’s truce offer, 11 central trade unions have put aside their political differences to stage the first-ever two-day-long nationwide strike on February 20 and 21. Life in Delhi and other major cities is expected to be affected with 2,013 independent and local unions joining the strike to protest the Centre’s economic policies, inflation and labour rights violations. Congress-backed Intuc and BJP-affiliated BMS have joined hands with the Left and other trade unions.

The unions say DTC buses and autorickshaws will go off the road. “All public sector banks and some private banks will be closed. Fuel supply will be hit and Haryana and Punjab state transport buses will not run,” Aituc chief Gurudas Dasgupta said.

In Mumbai, the Shiv Sena’s trade union supported the strike and BEST transport services will be hit. BSNL and MTNL workers have also pledged support.