Bengaluru, July 30: The Federation of Workers and Owners Associations of road transport has decided to hold a nationwide strike on August 7, urging the central government to withdraw Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill-2017, protect the transport industry and implement Social Security Act for the unorganized workers.

Speaking to reporters at the Press Club here on Monday, Federation leader K Prakash said that autos, taxi, private bus, trucks, state road transport corporations, workshops, spare parts shops and others were under critical situation. They have been facing the harassment from the officials and the police. At this situation, the central government has planned to amend the existing Motor Vehicle Act to destabilize the owners and workers of the industry and handover the entire industry to Indian and corporate companies. They would not allow the government to pass this Bill which aimed at harassing the workers and owners of the transport vehicles, he said.

This Bill would snatch the power of the state government. The power giving inter-state permits would go to the centre and it was a conspiracy to snatch the special right given to the state governments. If the Bill was passed, it would pave way for private operators to run their vehicles without permits, he said.

If the Bill was passed, then the drivers and conductors would be held responsible for accidents and slapped hefty fine. The central government was claiming that the Bill was amended to check the accidents, which is a lie, he said.

KSRTC Employees Federation president HD Revappa, OUT Drivers and Owners Association president Tanvir Pasha, Rudramurthy of Auto Drivers Association, Siddaiah of Taxi Drivers Association, Commercial Vehicles Drivers Association president Puttalingaiah and others were present.

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New Delhi (PTI): Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Monday expressed sorrow at the death of 10 patients in a fire at a hospital in Odisha's Cuttack.

In a social media post, the vice president said he was deeply saddened by the tragic fire incident.

"My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said.

At least ten patients were killed after a fire erupted in an ICU in Odisha government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital early Monday.

Around 11 hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while rescuing patients to safety.