Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: While the members of All Jammu Province Passenger Transport Welfare Association and group operators had long meeting with the Transport Commissioner Saurabh Bhagat to resolve the issue of fare revision and avoid proposed public transport strike, the Association members however, claimed that they are still firm on the indefinite strike from January 2.
A Government spokesman said that a meeting regarding the revision of passenger fare was held with the Transport Associations/ Group Operators here today under the chairmanship of Transport Commissioner Saurabh Bhagat. The members of the Association stressed for expeditious disposal of their demands regarding revision of passenger fare. After detailed deliberations, Mr Bhagat assured that transporters that steps are being taken at various levels to ensure revision in the fare in the shortest possible time. The Commissioner appreciated the move of the Association to withdraw the strike in the interest of general public, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar, general secretary of the Transport Welfare Association when contacted disclosed that they had two hour long meeting with the Transport Commissioner from 11 am to 1 pm today. The assurances came from the Commissioner regarding withdrawal of strike but no decision was taken regarding withdrawal of strike. He claimed that public transport bodies would go for indefinite strike from January 2 as already decided.
He claimed that Mr Bhagat told the members that he has forwarded memo to the Cabinet to accord hike in fare but the Government as per old practice has not taken any transport body into confidence. No member from transport body was taken for negotiation and the Government at its own has recommended the hike to the Cabinet. They were not told how much hike in fare is being proposed. This is unjustified and unacceptable.
Another member of the Association, K D Singh who also represents 2×2 Jammu-Kathua-Udhampur Bus Union said that Association has not withdrawn strike call. He disclosed that tomorrow another round of meeting of the Association is going to be held with Transport and CAPD Minister Ch Ramzan at 12 noon a Civil Secretariat. If any concrete assurance comes from Minister, the Core Committee of the Transport Unions/ Associations/ Groups would hold emergency meeting thereafter, and then decide about it. At present no such announcement has been made in this regard. He claimed that Government spokesman has tried to create confusion among the masses regarding strike and damage the interests of the transport unions.
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