Roadways staff threaten ‘chakka jam’ tomorrow

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, June 11

Haryana Roadways employees have given a one-day ultimatum to the state government to stop issuing permits to private bus operators and prohibit entry of private buses into depots. In case the government fails to do so, they will hold a ‘chakka jam’ across the state on June 13.

The Ambala depot is closed for the past two days as employees there are observing a strike in protest against the behaviour of private operators, who forcibly enter the depot.

A meeting of the state executive members of eight unions of Haryana Roadways employees was held under the banner of the All Haryana Roadways Workers Joint Action Committee here today. JAC member and Haryana Roadways Workers’ Organisation former president Azad Singh Malik chaired the meeting.

During the meeting, it was also decided to gherao Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar’s residence in Madlauda in Panipat on June 18 in protest against the government for granting permits to private operators. And if their demands were still not met, they would gherao Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s residence in Karnal on July 9.

Malik alleged that the government was issuing new permits to private operators and they were running their buses on new routes, which they would not tolerate.

Dalbir Kirmara, president, All Haryana Roadways Union; Babu Lal Yadav, president, Haryana Roadways Workers’ Organisation; Hari Narayan Sharma, president, All Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union; and INTUC leader Anoop Singh Sehrawat were among those present at the meeting.

Babu Lal Yadav alleged, “The state government is not serious about the priavtisation policy and the demands of the Roadways employees. It was due to the government apathy that the Ambala Depot has been closed for the past two days.”

Gherao of Panwar’s residence on June 18

During a meeting of eight unions of Haryana Roadways employees, it was also decided to gherao Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar’s residence in Madlauda in Panipat on June 18 in protest against the government for granting permits to private operators. And if their demands were still not met, they would gherao Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s residence in Karnal on July 9.