Indian unions call 24-hour strike

Unions say airport employees will walk out en masse

Leftist Indian trade unions have called a day-long, nationwide strike on Thursday to protest against the government's economic reforms.

Millions of airport, railway and bank employees are expected to walk out.

The civil aviation authority says it rules out major disruption as 3,000 air force personnel have been drafted in.

Indian communist parties are part of India's government coalition led by the Congress Party, but oppose privatisation plans and other reforms.

"This will be just a warning for the government," said M K Pandhe, general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

"Unless the government undertakes a comprehensive review of its policies, we will call for a much bigger action - we may go for longer strikes," he added.

'Virtual shutdown'

Airports are particularly affected by the strike as many employees oppose government plans to sell 74% stakes in the Delhi and Mumbai hubs.

But Mr Pandhe said the walkout would lead to "a virtual shutdown of many, many sectors," including banks and insurance companies.

Although a number of private airlines have announced the cancellation of some of their flights, the government insists security measures air traffic management will not be disrupted.

Indian air force personnel will be deployed to major airports to replace air traffic controllers and other key services.

This is the first national strike called by unions since the reformist Congress Party came to power in 2004.

It is expected that the southern state of Kerala and West Bengal, both strongholds of the Left, will be particularly hard-hit by the strike.