By IANS,
Chandigarh : Residents of Haryana had a tough time as hundreds of Haryana Roadways employees went on a one-day strike Wednesday to protest against the privatisation policy of the state government.
Tens of hundreds of roadways buses remained off road in various parts of the state, following the strike call given by Haryana Roadways Karamchari Sangharsh Samiti.
Members of various employees unions also staged protest marches in different districts, including Rohtak, Sonepat, Jhajjar and Hisar.
“We are totally against the privatisation of Haryana roadways,” Rattan Singh, a senior member of the Haryana Roadways Karamchari Sangharsh Samiti, told IANS.
“Yesterday (Tuesday) employees of various administrative departments wore black badges to protest against it. Today (Wednesday) hundreds of drivers and conductors have gone on strike,” he added.
The strike has been called to protest against the proposed allotment of 2,700 permits to private bus operators in the state. The union leaders demanded that instead of privatisation, the government should fill the vacant posts in Haryana Roadways.
“Various talks with the representatives of the government have failed to yield any result. We demand filling up of the vacant posts and regularisation of the services of contractual employees,” Singh said.
The Haryana government has warned the striking employees.
“We have urged the roadways employees to remain away from this strike as it would cause harassment to the public. Their representatives can come to us and we are open for any kind of discussion,” said a senior official of Haryana Roadways.
“Strict action will be taken against the errant employees who are deliberately spoiling the situation,” he added.
Besides, the Haryana government has imposed various restrictions in different districts to restrain the employees union from protesting near the bus stands in the state.
Said Ramesh Rana, a harried passenger: “I had to reach my office in Rohtak at 10 a.m. but I did not get any bus. So I had to hire a private taxi at 10 times the price of bus fare.”