RTC strike: Will continue indefinite strike until demands met, says Kodihalli Chandrashekhar
Bengaluru, Apr 7: Bus services were hit in most parts of Karnataka on Wednesday as drivers and conductors of road transport corporations (RTC) began their indefinite strike on wage-related issues.
With the government not ready to concede to their demand for implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission report, the RTC workers decided to continue with the strike.
The decision was taken despite Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa warning the workers of strict action and indicating invoking of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on them.
Commuters were stranded as buses of the four transport corporations almost came to a complete halt from Tuesday afternoon after drivers and conductors kept off the second shift.
Passengers travelling to and from distant areas and office-goers were the most affected.
Several universities postponed the exams because of the strike.
The government has tried to make alternative arrangements by roping in private transport operators and sought deployment of more trains.
Private buses, maxi cabs and other transport services were operating in different parts of the city, much to the rescue of stranded passengers.
However, private operators said, the number of passengers was scarce.
They said many passengers are using their own vehicles or have made arrangements on their own.
Metro rail increased the frequency of its services between 7 AM and 9 PM.
Workers of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC), under the banner of Karnataka State Road Transport Employees League, have given a call for strike from April 7.
While making it clear that the implementation of the Commission for transport workers was not possible, the government, however, agreed to an 8 per cent increase in salary as an interim relief.
But, the government said, it cannot be implemented immediately as the model code of conduct is in place and a letter has been sent to the Election Commission seeking permission.
At some places, there were complaints from passengers about private services charging exorbitantly.
Officials said they are keeping vigil and making spot visits to inspect the fare charged by private operators.
Warning against resorting to strike during the COVID-19 situation, officials have said, "No work, No pay."
Pointing out that the public is being affected because of the strike and calling on the employees to get back to work, Chief Minister Yediyurappa indicated that a decision on invoking ESMA would be taken depending on the situation.
He alleged that selfish motives of some people were behind the strike.
"We have fulfilled eight of their (workers) nine demands despite which they are adamant and have stopped buses, and are creating trouble. I appeal to them to get back to work, we can talk. Don't give room for us to take strict measures," Yediyurappa said.
Stating that some RTC buses are operating, and their numbers would increase in all the four corporations in two days, Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi said private buses are being provided facilities at bus terminals to operate from, and they have been allowed to run without permit, but with insurance.
"In two days, we will increase their numbers, and from tomorrow about 4,000 more private buses, who had surrendered, will operate," said Savadi, who also holds the Transport portfolio.
Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, honorary president of the KSRTC Employees League, said the strike would continue indefinitely until the demand is met.
"Whenever you (CM) call us, we are ready for discussion. Our indefinite strike will continue tomorrow and thereafter, until our demands are fulfilled... Our main demand is the Sixth Pay Commission and the government has to arrive at a decision," he said.
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Two injuries, one DNF, a DQ as India end messy World Relays campaign
Gaborone (Botswana) (PTI): Amoj Jacob and Ragul Kumar got injured during the men's 4x400m and 4x100 races respectively as India ended their World Athletics Relays campaign in disappointment on the second day of competitions here on Sunday.
The Indian camp had high hopes of making the 2027 World Championships in the men's 4x400m relay but the team did not finish (DNF) the race as Jacob suffered cramps and pulled out of the race after taking the baton from the first leg runner Dharamveer Choudhary. Rajesh Ramesh and Vishal TK were to run in the third and fourth legs.
Those teams which could not qualify for the 2027 Beijing World Championships by reaching the final round of each of the six relay events on Saturday were given another chance in the second qualification round on Sunday.
The top two teams in each of the two heats (in all six relay events) booked the Beijing ticket on Sunday.
India will now have to try and qualify for the World Championships through the Top Lists of the World Athletics, which is a long and tedious process.
In the men's 4x100m race, third leg runner Ragul Kumar fell down the track after failing to hand over the baton inside the exchange zone to fourth leg runner Gurindervir Singh, which clearly showed the lack of coordination among the runners.
Harsh Santosh Raut and Animesh Kujur ran the first two legs.
The Indian quartet was disqualified and Kumar was seen being taken away from the Field of Play with the help of the volunteers.
It was a comedy of errors in the case of the women's 4x100m race, which saw the baton being dropped during an exchange between first leg runner Tamanna and second runner Nithya Gandhe, though the Indians finished the race in 53.09 seconds.
Gandhe started running quite a distance, but after realising that the baton was not in her hand, she turned and ran back to pick it up.
The only silver-lining for the Indian contingent was the national record time in the mixed 4x100m relay race, though the quartet of Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur and Sneha SS finished sixth in heat number two with a time of 41.35 seconds, bettering the previous national mark of 42.30 seconds set in March in Chandigarh.
The mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Theerthesh P Shetty, Kumari Saloni, Nihal William and Rashdeep Kaur ended at fifth in heat number one with a time of 3 minutes and 19.40 seconds.
On Saturday, all the five Indian relay teams had failed to make it to the respective final rounds and thus missed out on the 2027 World Championships berths.
