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Railway booking staff call off strike

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 30. Employees of reservation offices in Western and Central Railways, who went on a flash strike today in protest against the privatisation of railway reservation centres, called off their agitation following talks between the management and the staff representatives.

Earlier, trade unions affiliated to the Northern Railway today threatened to launch a stir in solidarity with their counterparts of other railway zones.

Maintaining that the foray of private parties was "uncalled for", the general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen, M. Raghavaiah, said if the Railway Ministry did not act responsibly, the employees would strike work.

He alleged that the decision to privatise the ticketing work was only to "favour certain individuals and was motivated".

It was not going to help the common man as private agents could still collect premiums illegally.

According to Shiv Gopal Mishra, president of the Uttar Railway Mazdoor Union, the Railways had enough infrastructure and the terminals should not be handed over to private parties.

He said the employees would stage a demonstration outside the DRM offices at various zones tomorrow and would strike work if the Railway Ministry did not withdraw the circular.

Later, the representatives of the Railway Federations met the Chairman, Railway Board, who assured them that it was only an "experiment" and that any final decision would depend on its success.

He reportedly told them that General Managers of the Central and Western Railways had been authorised to talk to the employees and all the apprehensions of the employees would be set at rest.

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