The first day of the four-day strike by Haryana Roadways employees across Haryana on Monday crippled public transport across the State and severely affected normal life of the daily commuters.
Roadways employees unions had given the strike call in support of their demands and had refused to heed an appeal by the State Government to call it off. They are demanding cancellation of lucrative route permits to private bus operators across Haryana being given by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Government in the State. They are also seeking regularisation of contract employees and other perks.
The State Government had tried to break the deadlock by having discussions with union leaders under the chairmanship of cabinet minister Randeep Surjewala and Aftab Ahmed, transport minister before the strike on January 19 at Kaithal.
However, the meeting failed to end the deadlock.
Roadways employees stopped plying buses early in the morning on Monday and the strike was observed in all the 21 depots across the State. Heavy rush was witnessed at Railway stations on Monday even as private taxis, maxi cabs and auto rickshaws charged more for the transportation. A lot of people and daily commuters had to cancel their routine work.
“I had an important interview for a job in MNC at Gurgaon but due to the strike, I could not reach there, Now, I requested for extending the interview date,” said Rajeev Khurana, a resident of sector 22, Chandigarh.
local offices of Haryana Government also saw a lot of absentees as employees who come by Haryana roadways buses couldn't reach their offices.
However, no untoward incident was reported, except a mild lathi charge at Rohtak and slight resentment at Palwal where protesters tried to stop 12 roadway buses, which left bus depot for different routes carrying passengers. local police detained around 35 protesters there and took them to urban estate police station.