The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on July 18, 2015. MUNICIPAL contract workers and employees in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are on a strike for the last ten days. Both the state governments are adamant and are not resolving the just demands of the workers. Left parties leaders from Telangana who were on fast in support of the strike were arrested by the police. Protesting against the arrest of leaders and in support of the striking workers, a statewide hartal was organised in Telangana on July 17. In Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, the protesting workers were lathi-charged and many, including women, were injured. The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemns the adamant attitude of both the state governments and the arrest and lathi-charge of leaders and workers. The Polit Bureau demands that the state governments initiate discussion to amicably settle the just demands of the striking workers.