Transport strike: Karnataka CM Yediyurappa appeals to workers to call off strike
Deputy CM Laxman Savadi ruled out considering striking transport workers' demands to be treated as govt employees, but said other demands will be looked into.
FollowBengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday made a fervent appeal to the KSRTC staff to call off their strike.
"A sincere effort was made to resolve problems of KSRTC staff in today’s meeting convened by Deputy Chief Minister Lakshman Savadi and Home Minister Basavaraja Bommai. Except the condition to consider KSRTC staff as Government employees, other demands such as rectifying salary differences, Rs. 30 lakh ex-gratia to the employees, who died of COVID-19, action to avoid harassment from senior officials were promised to be fulfilled,” a press release by the Chief Minister's Office stated.
"Though the employees association leaders agreed to this in the meeting and said that they would announce the same in the freedom park, they are creating unnecessary confusion, by joining hands with Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, " Yediyurappa added.
"It is not appropriate for Kodihalli Chandrashekhar to mislead the employees and his malafide intentions are condemnable", said the Chief Minister.
He expressed concerns over the inconveniences caused to the public and the loss and problems caused to the KSRTC and its employees. In this wake, the Chief Minister has called upon the employees to end their strike and join duty.
Efforts were made to resolve the problems of the KSRTC staff in Sunday’s meeting convened by Deputy Chief Minister Lakshman Savadi and Home Minister Basavaraja Bommai.
Savadi ruled out considering striking transport workers' demands to be treated as government employees, but said all other needs within financial limitations are being looked into. He said the option of deploying private bus operators was being examined to minimise the hardship faced by commuters till the issue was resolved.
"Certain things are difficult. We have to do things within our financial limitations. Already the government has been hit because of COVID-19 and there are financial constraints. We are thinking about giving them (employees) what can be given legitimately," Savadi, who is also the Transport Minister, said.
