BEST bus stir: NCP, AAP attack BJP-Sena, question motives

Opposition parties Monday hit out at the BJP and Shiv Sena for the BEST bus strike which entered its seventh day in the metropolis even as an official of the civic-run transport undertaking expressed hope that a High Court hearing later in the day will throw up a solution.

Over 32,000 employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) are on strike since Tuesday last week and 3200-odd buses in its fleet are off the roads.

Striking workers are demanding the merger of BEST's budget with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the former's parent body, as well as higher wages.

Talks over the last week between a state government committee led by the Maharashtra chief secretary and striking BEST unions have failed to break the impasse.

The Nationalist Congress Party and Aam Aadmi Party Monday questioned the motives of the ruling BJP-Sena combine and asked why the strike had been allowed to linger on for a week now.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik Monday said, "BEST strike enters 7th day to promote wet leasing of buses to benefit Shiv Sena leaders. Similar ploy was played in MSRTC buses. Shiv Sena should clarify how many buses belong to their leaders."
He added, "The BJP will also hand over electric supply to their friend Adani. Shiv Sena and BJP are holding Mumbaikars to ransom to benefit their leadership."
A senior BEST official, meanwhile, said, "We have pinned our hope on the Bombay High court which is due to hear this case Monday afternoon. With HC intervention, we are hopeful an agreement will be reached today."