Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Dec 13: The strike called by state transport workers has entered the third day and seems to have become an ego clash between the ruling BJP government and the workers' union.

As no talks were held between the workers' union and the government on Saturday, December 12, it is doubtful that the government bus services would be available to the public on Sunday, December 13 also.

In the meantime, the government is thinking of running private buses from Sunday, December 13. On the contrary, the transport workers have decided to hold indefinite hunger strike from Sunday.

The workers said that indefinite hunger strike will be held in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statues in respective areas. If the government hires private drivers, the transport union workers might throw stones and damage the government buses. It has hence been decided to allow private buses themselves to carry passengers. However, there is a possibility that the striking workers might get frustrated if the government allows private buses to operate and the tussle between the government and workers' union might worsen.

Sensing the severity of the striking workers, the government has called a meeting of striking workers, union of state transport workers and leaders of CITU on Sunday. Transport minister Laxman Savadi also held talks with CM Yediyurappa in this regard on the evening of Saturday, December 12.

The government is silently making alternative arrangements in case the talks on Sunday fail. Private buses will be temporarily allowed to operate throughout the state. There are more than 9,000 to 10,000 private buses in the state. Out of these 3,000 buses were declared as non-productive as their owners could not pay the taxes due to the coronavirus pandemic. All these buses are under the possession of the transport department.

There is no permission for private buses to take stops wherever required like government buses. However, it is possible for the government to give temporary permits and make them carry passengers. One of the senior officers of the transport department said that they are in talks with the private vehicle owners in this regard.

Generally private vehicles have contract permits to operate the vehicles only between two specific destinations. However, in the Motor Vehicles Act, there is provision to provide temporary permit in extraordinary situations. This permit is valid from one month to six months. In addition, there are private buses which ferry employees of ITBT companies and students of private colleges. They also can be used for public service by the government. However, they cannot operate on routes which are nationalized. Nearly 11 to 12 districts in the state have such routes as per the officials of the transport department.

CM B S Yediyurappa expressed his rage against Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, president of farmers' association. The CM accused Chandrashekhar of instigating the transport workers, with ulterior motive, to pelt stones on government buses. Yediyurappa also said that the derogatory language used by Chandrashekhar against former CM Kumaraswamy is also condemnable. He has also appealed to the transport workers to report to duty.

The public had to face the hardship on Saturday also due to no bus service. Government resorted to running the buses with the help of trainee and probationary drivers under police protection. However, the protesters did not allow the same and started pelting stones at the buses.

Minister Laxman Savadi said that he has not ignored the protest of the transport workers. He said that he can offer better facilities to the striking workers but it is not possible to consider them as government employees. This action will be taken within the limits of the available funds, said Savadi. Talks are scheduled to be held at 10 am on Sunday, December 13 with registered workers' unions. The minister is confident that the issue will be resolved in the meeting on Sunday.