Maharashtra: First lot of inter-city MSRTC buses begin operations

A section of MSRTC workers continued their strike at Azad Maidan, on Friday. Pic/Atul Kamble

After a long impasse, some MSRTC buses started operations under police protection on Friday. About 36 buses plied across the state and ferried 826 passengers as a total of 1,532 employees resumed work. Officials said that workers at a number of the corporation's divisional workshops were slowly getting back to work, though bus operations continue to remain affected. Buses were seen being escorted outside depots under police cover to avoid damage.

The highest number of buses plied on the Pune-Dadar route. Of the 36 buses, seven Shivneri-class ones ferried a total of 168 passengers," said a senior official.
On Thursday evening, Maharashtra Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Anil Parab had appealed to all the employees willing to work to resume duties without fear and had sought police protection for them.

Buses were escorted outside depots under police cover to avoid damage

Officials said that so far the state-owned corporation has suspended 2,053 employees, including 1,135 on Thursday, from various depots and workshops for taking part in the strike and instigating others to join. Despite a High Court order terming the strike uncalled for and several attempts by the state government and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to end the protests, the strike continues.

MSRTC buses parked at the Parel ST depot on Friday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

‘Don't fall in BJP's trap'

Appealing to the workers to withdraw the strike, Parab said on Friday that the BJP and MNS leaders were instigating the agitation and causing hardships for the distressed workforce. "Sadabhau Khot and Gopichand Padalkar are instigating the workers. They will not stand by them in the long term. They will not compensate them for the losses during the strike. The leaders may make accusations against me, try me and hang me, but they shouldn't push the MSRTC into a crater," said Parab, adding that it was not possible for the government to accept the merger demand. "An HC-appointed committee will submit its report on the matter in 12 weeks because it needs time to study financial and other aspects. The government as well as the workers will accept the report when it is placed before the court. In the meantime the government can discuss other demands, like pay revision," he added. The minister said the workers had realised that their demand for merger was wrong and wanted to return to work. "I request the workers to not fall prey to this political game because the loss is theirs, not of the leaders, who are diverting their attention from the real issue."

The maximum number of buses plied on the Pune-Dadar route on Friday

Strike continues

On Friday, Shiv Sena's long-time adversary and BJP legislator Nitesh Rane joined the striking workers at Mumbai's Azad Maidan. The MNS has been actively supporting the agitation. The party's general secretary Sandeep Deshpande threatened an MNS-style reaction if the government took the help of the police to get the buses back on roads. However, Parab said violent effort to stop or damage the buses would be dealt with very strictly.

Later in the day, MNS chief Raj Thackeray met Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar to discuss the agitation and its resolution.