Haryana Roadways employees extend strike till November 4
CHANDIGARH: Haryana Roadways employees on Thursday extended their ongoing strike by another two days and announced a rally in Jind district on November 4.
The employees are on strike since October 16 against the government’s decision to hire 700 buses from private owners. There are about 19,000 employees in the Haryana Roadways.
The Haryana Roadways Employees Coordination Committee on Thursday decided to extend the stir till November 4, committee leader Dalbir Kirmara said. “On November 4, protesters will hold a ‘save roadways protect employment’ statelevel rally at Jind,” he said.
Holding the BJP government “directly responsible” for the strike, Kirmara said, “The present dispensation is least bothered about employees and people of the state and its only aim is to benefit the chosen ones.” He said the employees will announce their next course of action at the Jind rally.
“Activists of the Sarv Karmachari Sangh and the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh and gram panchayats and khap leaders have been invited to attend the rally,” Kirmara said.
The stir has hit the public transport services despite the state government making alternate arrangements, including appointing drivers and conductors and hiring buses.
BLACK DAY IN KARNAL
In protest against the government, striking Haryana roadways employees on Thursday observed black day in Karnal.
“Wrong policies of the government have forced roadways employees to observe Haryana Day as black day,” said Sukhwinder Singh, member of the roadways employees union.
Meanwhile, Hisar residents heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday after workers under the Sarv Karmachari Sangh of various departments returned to their job.
Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi, who was in Fatehabad to address a public meeting, said the government must call all roadways leaders for a meeting.
‘GODMAN’ RAMPAL’S FOLLOWERS OFFER SUPPORT TO STRIKE
Hundreds of supporters of selfstyled godman Rampal, who was recently convicted for murder, came out in support of agitating Haryana roadways workers in Rohtak on Thursday.
The sudden surge in protest ers at Hooda City Park sent the district police and administra tion into a tizzy as sources said no intelligence was received in advance.
To prevent any untoward situ ation, deputy commissioner Yash Garg reached the protest site and accepted the memorandum from Rampal supporters.
Chand Singh Rathee, spokes person of Rampal’s Satlok Ash ram, claimed that 2 lakh follow ers will attend the Jind rally on November 4.
“We warned the government of complete boycott in the upcoming polls in Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh and Haryana The government is doing injustice to all,” he said.