Protesting for the last seven days against the state government's decision to hire 700 private buses for Haryana Roadways, the state transporter's employees extended their strike Monday by three days.
The roadways employees extended the strike a day after their talks with the Haryana government failed Sunday with the protesters sticking to their demand for roll back of the government's decision to hire private buses, said a member of striking employees' union.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, however, ruled out Monday to roll back his government's decision to augment the state transporter's fleet to ease people's travels.
The striking employees extended their stir fearing that hiring private buses was a part of the government's plan to privatise state road transport corporation.
They also accused the government of trying to benefit some private transporters by hiring private buses for roadways, a charge which the chief minister refuted stoutly.
Talking to reporters here on Monday, Chief Minister Khattar dismissed the allegations by the Opposition and the roadways union leaders that the government's decision to hire 700 private buses was aimed at benefitting private transporters.
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Khattar said the roadways union leaders should raise issues pertaining to the employees and must not interfere into the government's policy matters.
We have already said these 700 buses will be under the control of the Haryana Roadways and will be part of its fleet, we are not giving permits to private players, he said.
He said the addition of private buses, which would be plied on kilometre-basis, would not affect the roadways employees in any manner.
He said the categories of people entitled to free or concessional travel passes would continue to avail the same facility in private buses as well.
Asked about the peoples' inconvenience due to the ongoing stir by the roadways employees, Khattar said the government has made alternate arrangements and would shortly hire new drivers and conductors to ensure no one faces any hardship.
The striking roadway's employees decided to extend their stir Monday in their coordination committee meeting, a union member said.
The coordination committee meeting has decided to extend strike by three days till October 25. Government is not serious on our demand, they are bent upon privatising the roadways," said Balwan Sigh, a member of the coordination committee of the Haryana Roadways Employees Union.
"The talks broke down yesterday because of the government's rigid approach,he added.
"We are clear that we will not allow them to hire private buses even if we have to continue our stir for long," he said.
The employees have been on strike since October 16 against the state government's decision to hire 700 buses from private owners. The employees union has demanded cancellation of the tenders issued till now for hiring 510 private buses.
Main opposition INLD, meanwhile, expressed concern over the continuing strike by the roadways employees and urged the chief minister to find an amicable solution to the problem in consultation with the employees.
"As a first step ESMA cases against the striking employees should be withdrawn and new fleet of buses should be purchased for instead of hiring private buses for the roadways, Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala said Monday.
There are about 19,000 employees in Haryana roadways, having a fleet of 4,100 buses. The roadways caters to the need of 12 lakh passengers daily. Defying ESMA, the employees have been on strike since Tuesday.