Face-off between Har govt, employees on; buses stay off roads

Commuters in Haryana faced a tough time on the first day of the two-day strike called by the state Roadways employees, opposing the new transport policy under which the government is mulling giving permits to ply 3,519 private buses.
However, the government has justified the move and said those employees who are found taking law into their hands during the course of their stir will be dealt "strictly".
Principal Secretary (Transport), R R Jowel said,"for a population of over 2.5 crore, a fleet of 4,000 buses is not sufficient and services of private operators is required to deal with the growing passenger volume."

Meanwhile, employees of other government departments also joined the strike today on the call given by two major employees unions - Sarv Karamchari Sangh and Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh.
Buses belonging to private operators and of other state Roadways, including Punjab and Himachal Roadways, were the only respite for the people of the state.
The Haryana Roadways employees went on the strike after talks between employees' leaders and state Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed held here yesterday failed.

Haryana Roadways Employees Union President, Dalbir Kirmara said that the unions were opposing the government move to give permits to ply 3,519 private buses under the new transport policy apart from other demands.

Besides, the transport department, a large number of employees from various departments of the state government are also taking part in the strike demanding regularisation of around one lakh temporary employees.
Across the state, the bus terminuses wore a deserted look, with the buses, including the luxury Volvo service, staying off the roads.
Chandigarh, Ambala, Panipat, Hisar, Sirsa, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Mahendergarh, Bhiwani and Rewari were the worst hit.
At various places including Ambala, members of different roadways unions were sitting in front on the exit gate of the roadways' depot since last late night and did not allow any bus to ply.

A large number of police force was deployed outside the depots to deal with any untoward situation, officials said.
With other unions also joining the strike, the police force was also deployed at various power stations, bus stands and other sensitive places.
Chief Secretary, P K Chaudhery appealed to the agitating employees to call off their strike saying "the state government has always been considerate to genuine demands of the employees." He urged the employees to desist from causing inconvenience to the public.