Both government and striking employees seem preparing for an imminent showdown with the leaders of Telangana joint action committee (JAC) demanding lifting of the provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and police cases as a precondition for negotiations initiated by the group of ministers (GoM) on Wednesday.
“Though we are willing to participate in the negotiations, we cannot do it under coercive atmosphere,” Swami Goud, chairman of the employees JAC told the media after meeting the GoM headed by deputy chief minister D Raja Narasimha.
The leaders made three specific demands to call off the ongoing strike. These include lifting of ESMA provisions and police cases filed against the leaders and the agitators at a time when the government is preparing to use force to end the 30-day long strike.
Ministers, however, maintained that they would brief chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the demands made by the employee leaders later in the day and get back with a suitable response.
Meanwhile, the strike continued for the 30th day today even as the bus services in Hyderabad improved after the leaders of the recognised National Mazdoor Union called off the strike resulting in a vertical split among its ranks.