Transporters threaten indefinite strike

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 26: Transporters of the State have threatened indefinite strike if the Government fails to hike the fares at the earliest.
Before taking the extreme step, the transporters are waiting for the outcome of the next Cabinet meeting where they feel government will take a decision on fare hike.
Talking to Excelsior, Vijay Kumar Sharma, general secretary, All Jammu and Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association said that the Government is already aware about the demands of the transporters.
“We have decided to wait for the outcome of next Cabinet meeting. If our demands are met well and good and if the demands are kept in abeyance then we would be forced to take extreme decision of carrying out indefinite strike. We cannot afford further losses and the Government should increase the fare by 15 percent,” said Sharma.
Gazi Abdul Majeed, Chairman, Kashmir Valley Private and Commercial Transporters Association exuded confidence that the demand for increase in the fare would be accepted by the Government during the Cabinet meeting.
“We carried out a meeting with the Government on October 8 with respect to our demands. The State Government agreed to our demand of 15 percent increase in the fare and it was promised that the orders would be issued before the closure of Durbar Move offices in Srinagar. There is no point in delaying the issuance of order after agreeing in principle to the hike the fares for all passenger vehicles in State,” said Majeed, who is also Chairman Western Bus Service Batmaloo.
Sheikh Mohammad Yusuf, Chairman Mini-Bus Trans-porters Federation Kashmir said that the standing committee has acceded to the demands of the transporters such Government should issue formal orders for increase in the fares.