Vijayapura: Accusing the State BJP Government of making efforts to allow private bus operator Bendre transport to operate on long distance roads coming under NWKSRTC, D. A. Vijay Bhaskar, General Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress has said that the trade union and the staff of NWKSRTC will protest against any such order.
Addressing media persons on Tuesday August 10, he said that the government has committed the mistake of allowing Bendre service to operate its buses in Hubballi-Dharwad Corporation limits. “Now, the government has prepared a draft allowing this private bus operator to operate on long distance roads coming under NWKSRTC. Instead of helping the State-owned transport operators to work, the government is giving permission to private operators”, he said.
He said that the trade unions had registered their protest in the past only when the then Congress government had allowed Bendre to operate buses.
But since the permission was already given, the government had said that the services will be terminated after the end of the first contract.
Even after the end of the contract, the operator used a legal route and also used political influence to get permission to operate.
“The government in no case should allow private transport to operate at the cost of government buses.
He also alleged that there is rampant corruption in KSRTC. The higher officials have been harassing the drivers and conductors. Vijay Bhaskar said that their protestors will continue to demand higher salary to KSRTC staff.
Stating that the government should take the responsibility of giving salary to the KSRTC staff, he said that the money generated from tickets can be used to purchase diesel, new buses and other equipment for buses. Accusing the Modi government at the centre acting like a dictator, he said that the Modi government is the most inhuman and undemocratic government the country has seen.
Taking on the government for refusing to give compensation to the families of Covid victims, he said that while the Modi government has crores to spend on constructing new parliament buildings and buying new airplane for Modi, it has no money for Covid victims.
Functionaries including Isak Mushrif and others were present.
