Hry roadways employees' strike enters day 3, most buses stay off roads

The Haryana Roadways Employees' strike against the state government decision to introduce 700 private buses continued for third day on Thursday, during which most of the buses remained off roads causing inconvenience to commuters.

The roadways employees union had Wednesday announced the extension of their strike by another two days, even as the state government had ordered suspension of several workers.

The union leaders claimed that at least 3,800 buses out of a fleet of 4,100 remained off roads.

The authorities plied buses at some places and services of drivers and conductors were sought from other government departments including the police.

At few places in the state, policemen in uniform were seen driving the roadways buses.

Hitting out at the state government, a union leader said "the government did not stop at invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), but suspended several roadways employees. So far, they have not invited us for any talks, which shows they are power drunk".

"We had yesterday extended the strike till Friday. We will wait for government's response and decide our next move accordingly," said Subhash Lamba, General Secretary, Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana.

However, another roadways union leader indicated that if government does not accept the demand of striking workers then strike was likely to be extended further.

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has also hit out at the Khattar government on the roadways' strike issue.

The road transport workers are fighting to retain the road transport in public sector for the benefit of the common people, Secretary, AITUC, Sukumar Damle, said in a statement.

Damle alleged that "the BJP state governments are hell bent on privatizing road transport sector, but are facing resolute opposition from the workers."