Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 3: The J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has stalled operation of its entire fleet of over 1200 vehicles as the workers today went on indefinite strike.
The SRTC vehicles operating on all the inter-state routes including Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jallandhar, Ludhiana, Pathankote, Haridwar, Shimla remained off the road while those operating between Jammu-Srinagar, Railway Station- Katra and other routes including Rajouri-Poonch, Doda-Kishtwar and even Kargil -Leh from Srinagar depot did not operate today. The driving staff deputed with the Corporation officers also stayed away from duty and joined the strike.
The Corporation workers under the banner of J&K SRTC Workers Union led by its chairman Shakeel Ahmed Kuchey and president Ashok Mehra announced the strike as the Government was allegedly forcefully shifting the old Transport Corporation Yard, Srinagar located near Tourist Reception Centre. Mr Kuchey and Mehra alleged that Government without any notice or making proper arrangements at the new place, forced to shift the SRTC yard from TRC area in Srinagar. A large number of SRTC workers including drivers and conductors held protest demonstration near TRC in Srinagar and lodged their strong protest against forceful eviction of Corporation workers from the old fifty year old SRTC headquarters.
They alleged that drivers were beaten up by cops and other staff was misbehaved during forced shifting of the yard. They condemned and opposed the Government move and said that they will not vacate that old SRTC complex which is located at prime place at the summer capital.
Not even single vehicle of the Transport Corporation came out of the Jammu yard at Bikram Chowk or Railway Station. The workers under the leadership of Ashok Mehra president and Param Jit Singh, general secretary assembled at Bikram Chowk office of the SRTC and held massive protest demonstration. They were shouting slogans against the NC led Coalition Government. It was followed by day long dharna in the office of General Manager Operations. Several speakers addressed the gathering.
Mr Mehra claimed that SRTC workers’ shrike will be continued till some negotiation is reached between the Union and the Government. He said the SRTC workers were beaten up and misbehaved and this was not the way to dislodge the Government workers from decades old office complex. He condemned the act of using force and said that there was no justification to shift to the location at Nowgam where no facility has been raised for the Corporation staff.
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