Kolkata, April 30 (IANS): On a day West Bengal's opposition parties called a general strike and shutdown, city-based businessmen and industrial honchos on Thursday lashed out against the use of such forms of protest, which, they said, disrupt the daily economic activity.

"Shutdowns and general strikes are not good for the economy, for the country or anybody. It not only impacts industrialists and trade, but also the wage earners... It creates unnecessary disruption in the daily economic functioning," chairman of Kolkata headquartered Ambuja-Neotia group, Harsh Neotia told IANS.

He said the group companies reported a shortfall between 10-15 percent in employee attendance.

"Today we had 10-15 percent lesser attendance than the normal days...those who felt they wouldn't be able to come took a casual leave today."

Managing director of Patton group Sanjay Budhia demanded a complete stop to such protests.

"There should be complete bandh (stoppage) on bandhs (shutdowns)... It causes all-round stoppage of work resulting in all-around losses in terms of productivity, work culture and monetary losses to the industry as much as to the daily wage earners, who have no other income for their family."

Central public sector undertaking Andrew Yule and Co also expressed similar sentiments.

"The impact of shutdowns is never positive as it not only results in loss of revenue for the state as well as the companies but for wage earners also," said its deputy general manager Ashish Paul told IANS.

"... If this kind of protest can bring in any change (for betterment), then this protest (shutdown) should be supported but if it is not able to bring in the change, then there is no need of it," said Paul, who said attendance was nearly normal in the group's offices and its 15 tea gardens.