Maha Transport Minister Anil Parab’s ultimatum fails to get MSRTC protesters back

MSRTC workers at Azad Maidan, on Friday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

State Transport Minister Anil Parab's ultimatum to all MSRTC workers to resume work by March 10 seems to have fallen on deaf ears as protesters are continuing the strike. Officials said that a little over 25,000 staffers have joined work so far, and there has not been much difference since the minister's ultimatum.

Workers who are demonstrating at Azad Maidan told mid-day that they will wait till March 22 before taking the final decision. Earlier this week, the legislative council asked the state government to set up a panel of members from the ruling and opposition parties of both the houses of the legislature to hold talks with the protesters at Azad Maidan.

The Bombay High Court has, meanwhile, asked the state transport body to not take any action till the government conveys its decision. The MSRTC had earlier informed that of the 82,000 workers, 28,000 had resumed work.

The three-member committee appointed by the HC to look into MSRTC's merger with the state government has rejected the proposal and has worked out a five-year plan to bail the corporation out of the losses. A final decision is expected to be taken by the government during the ongoing budget session.

MSRTC employees went on an indefinite strike from October-end over their demand for merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government and intensified it after the Diwali festival concluded. Despite giving a salary raise and assurances, there has been a stalemate.

82k
Approx. no. of MSRTC staffers