State workers on strike in Karnataka

About half-a-million state employees in Karnataka in southern India have gone on strike in support of a pay claim to give them parity with central government staff.

Officials said work had been completely disrupted in the state capital,Bangalore, and some state-run hospitals had been affected.

The workers are seeking a pay increase of thirty-five per cent and have turned down an offer of fifteen per cent.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service