Agartala, Sep 16 (IANS): The CPI-M-led ruling Left Front in Tripura has called for a 12-hour shutdown in the state Sep 20 to protest diesel price hike, foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and disinvestment in profit-making public sector undertakings (PSUs).

Accompanied by Left Front leaders, CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) state secretary Bijan Dhar said here Sunday that the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has "made the greatest assault on the common people by allowing 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail, increase in price of diesel and limiting subsidised cooking gas cylinders".

"Dawn-to-dusk strike would be observed Sep 20 to protest the hike in diesel price and allowing FDI in multi-brand retail. We would force the UPA government to rollback all the anti-people decisions," Dhar told reporters.

He said the proposed strike is part of the nation-wide agitation Sep 20.

The country-wide agitation is jointly called by the Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal, Janata Dal (Secular) and Telegu Desam Party besides the four Left parties.

Dhar, a CPI-M central committee member, said: "Already the common people have been hugely burdened with the unprecedented price rise of essentials. The recent central government decisions would take the people into a dying stage."

"The UPA government's recent decisions are all part of the strategic alliance with US in the defence and economic sectors," the CPI-M leader said.

He said four profit-making PSUs, including two declared as Navaratna, are being handed over to the private parties through disinvestment.

According to the Left leader, in view of 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail, livelihood of 30 crore people directly associated with the small and very small trading would be jeopardised while the 35 billion dollar Indian market would be affected.

The main opposition Congress in Tripura has opposed the shutdown Sep 20.

"Because the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) has called the strike Sep 20, the Left parties with understanding (with the NDA) has called the strike on the same day," Tripura Pradesh Congress president Sudip Roy Barman told reporters.

Meanwhile, protest rallies and demonstrations are being continued across Tripura by the Left parties to force the central government to withdraw its recent decisions on petroleum products, disinvestment in PSUs and FDI in multi-brand retail.