NEW DELHI. Dec 11: Angry workers marched through a New Delhi industrial area Friday and other across the country observed a general strike to protest the government's plan to further open the Indian economy to foreign investment, reports AP.

The New Delhi marchers belonged to leftist unions who, along with leftist political parties, called a one-day nationwide strike Friday. The protests reached parliament, where leftist politicians held an hour-long morning sit-in and later normal business in both the upper and lower houses was interrupted by shouts from members whose demands to discuss the strike were refused.

Politicians also clashed in parliament Friday over plans to set aside a third of parliamentary seats for women, making it uncertain the bill will ever come to a vote.

The bill, meant to increase women's participation in India's democracy, was first introduced in 1996 by a previous government. but has never come to a vote. Women accuse male politicians of being unwilling to surrender any power in a country where religious practice and tradition often keep women . in the shadows.

Though the strike appeared

only partially observed Friday in the capital, where shops and offices were open and traffic relatively normal, local news agencies reported most shops, banks, offices and the commuter railroad were shut down in the eastern city of Calcutta.

The state-owned airline cancelled service for the day in and out of Calcutta, the state capital of West Bengal, which is controlled by Communists. The city's stock market and major commodities markets were closed.

In Bombay. India's financial hub. the Reserve Bank of India said business was normal.

"There are two unions in the RBI. one for the officers and another for the clerical staff and neither have joined the strike." central bank spokesperson Al-pana Killawala told Dow Jones News Wires from Bombay. India’s financial hub.

Factories, shops and government offices were closed across the southwestern s^te of Kerala and the northeastern state of Tripura, news agencies added, saying protests were peaceful across the country.

The strike was, sparked by a bill opening up the Indian Insurance sector. The bill is ex-Kcted to be presented to par-ment for debate next week and is expected to pass.