Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: All the public transport vehicles will go off the road as the transporters and operators have decided to launch indefinite strike from tomorrow.
The decision in this connection was taken in an emergency meeting of the executive members of All J&K Passenger Transport Welfare Association. Representatives from various Bus, Mini-bus, Taxi/ Sumo, Auto-rikshaw operators unions also participated.
In the meeting held under the chairmanship of Bharat Bhushan Gupta from Jammu-Poonch Bus Union, it was unanimously decided to go on strike from Tuesday (January 28), as the Government failed to honour its commitment. The senior members of the Association and various Bus Unions including Anil Chopra, Devinder Choudhary, Pritam Singh, Vijay Kumar Sharma, B B Sharma, Darshan Mehra, Sukhbir Singh, Kuldip Singh, K D Singh, Mohinder Singh and others attended this meeting.
The members expressed their strong resentment against the attitude of Government and maintained that for the last four months, the members have submitted several representations to give hike in passenger fare in view of soaring prices of Petrol and diesel and insurance etc. but the Government has been adopting delaying tactics. The Operators had decided to go on strike previously but with the assurance from Transport Minister Choudhary Ramzan, Secretary Transport and Transport Commissioner Saurabh Bhagat, the strike was deferred. It was promised that issue would be resolved in next Cabinet meeting but Government again failed to resolve their issue in the Cabinet meet held two days back. The transporters were feeling duped.
Under such circumstances, the transporters and operators decided to go on indefinite strike from Tuesday. He said that no public transport will ply from tomorrow and the strike would go on till the matter of fare hike is resolved.
After the meeting, the transporters and operators held strong protest demonstration against the Government at General Bus Stand, Jammu and raised slogans in support of their demand.
In view of the public transport strike, the Jammu University authorities have decided to postpone all the examinations scheduled to be held on Tuesday. A spokesman from JU claimed that examinations being held tomorrow have been postponed.
Meanwhile Transport Commissioner, Sourabh Bhagat J&K has appealed the All J&K Passenger Transport Welfare Association Jammu to call off its proposed strike on January 28 in the larger interest of the general public. In a meeting held today, the Commissioner assured the transporters that the proposal for fare revision is under active consideration of the Government. He also assured that the interim relief in this regard will be given by January 31.
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