India's plans to sell company stakes draw threats of strikes

New Delhi

INDIA'S plans to sell the government's stake in several poorly performing companies have prompted trade union threats of a nation-wide strike, laying out a test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the lead up to crucial state elections.

With thousands of jobs potentially at risk, the government's decision to offload a number of companies to the private sector has drawn criticism from opposition parties and warnings from economists over the potential fallout.

While gross domestic product grew at one of the fastest paces in the wor…