The state government has invited leaders of Telangana employees joint action committee (JAC), for the second time, for talks tomorrow on finding ways to end the ongoing general strike launched a month ago.
The JAC leaders yesterday asked the government to lift the provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act and GO 177 that mandates stricter disciplinary action against striking employees.
They also wanted all police cases filed against the agitators be withdrawn as a precondition to the talks. Though the initial round of talks were held by a group of ministers, this time only the chief secretary and secretary services would be holding the meeting with the employee leaders on Friday afternoon.
The government’s move on Thursday also comes in the wake of the three-day rail roko programme being launched from Saturday by the Telangana political joint action committee.
A section of MPs of the ruling Congress party from the Telangana region said they would also take part in the rail roko agitation, making it further difficult for the government. However, Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy warned that any person trying to obstruct the movement of trains would be seriously dealt with.
With indications that the government is likely to use force to stop the general strike, a confrontation between police and agitators as well as preemptive arrests are expected to follow in the coming days if the talks fail. Police have already booked criminal cases against top leaders of employees JAC.
Power purchase
Meanwhile, the state power utilities on Thursday purchased 19.78 million units at a cost of close to Rs 9 crore to ensure power supply even while imposing large-scale power cuts on various sections of consumers equivalent to the shortfall of 36.32 million units, according to a press release.
The generation from NTPC stations has also been affected to an extent of 525 Mw from Ramagundam and 395 Mw from Simhadri stations due to reduced coal stock position.
The government has launched an offensive against closure of private and government educational institutions by the agitators as it received support from a section of parents and MLAs in Hyderabad who sought the chief minister's intervention in restoring classes.
The intensity of the ongoing strike in all the Telangana districts is still intact though public transport in the state capital considerably improved on Thursday.
