We are employees, not slaves: Karnataka transport staff to go on strike from August 5
Hubballi: The Akhila Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Naukarara Mahamandali has announced an indefinite strike starting August 5, citing the state government’s failure to act on their long-pending demands or respond to their strike notice.
“There is no question of withdrawing the strike now,” Deccan Herald quoted Mahamandali president K.S. Sharma as saying.
Sharma strongly criticised the government’s move to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), calling it a tactic to threaten employees of road transport corporations.
“It is ironic that the chief minister has not called for a meeting. Is this the way to run a government? Is it a people’s government or not?” he questioned.
Calling the Esma invocation an anti-labour policy, Sharma urged chief minister Siddaramaiah to engage with employees rather than “testing their patience.”
“We are not slaves; we are employees who serve both the government and the public. Running a government by invoking ESMA won’t work for long; it will backfire,” he asserted.
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Udhayanidhi accuses BJP of not releasing funds for TN
Gobichettipalayam (PTI): Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday charged the BJP government at the Centre with not releasing funds to the state and accused it of "snatching" TN's rights.
Addressing a poll rally at Gobichettipalayam in the western Erode district, the DMK youth wing chief claimed the Centre has not released funds to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore for education.
"They (union government) have snatched all our rights," he charged.
With regard to the Centre's proposal for delimitation, he said chief minister M K Stalin was the first person in the country to raise the voice against the union government's move. He claimed that it was a "huge victory" for the INDIA alliance, as the bill was defeated for lack of majority after the opposition voted against it in the Lok Sabha.
Listing out various welfare measures implemented by the DMK government, he said the existing "Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai" (monthly financial assistance for women) will be doubled to Rs 2,000 if DMK was voted to power again.
The deputy chief minister charged that the BJP and AIADMK have tried to stall it by moving the court. "At present more than 1.3 crore women have benefited from the scheme", he said.
"Similarly, the breakfast scheme for the government school students will be extended till Class VIII", he said adding "more than 35 lakh college students across the state will be getting free laptops once the DMK government is formed".
Udhayanidhi also pointed out at the "Illatharasi" poll promise, providing Rs 8,000 worth of coupons to non-income tax paying women where they could buy or replace any household appliances of their choice.
Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23 and the results declared on May 4 following counting of polled votes.
