The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), which has cried hoarse over the draft road transport and safety Bill, 2014 by saying that it will ruin RTCs in the country, is allegedly planning action against its workers participating in the nationwide demonstration against the proposed legislation on Friday.
KSRTC’s Chief Vigilance Officer Lingaraju on November 29 issued a circular directing his subordinates to send a list of “likely participants” in the proposed demonstration and regularly monitor bus operations on Friday and report about estimated loss to the corporation. KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation has alleged that these are nothing but steps to issue charge sheets against employees and continue their harassment.
‘Delhi Chalo’ The National Federation of Indian Transport Workers, which is opposing the draft Bill, has planned the protest and ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation on Friday. The KSRTC federation too had urged its members to participate in the agitation saying if the Bill becomes an Act, it would ruin State transport undertakings. It also highlighted the quantum hike in penalties for road offences.
Federation general secretary H.V. Ananthasubba Rao wrote to KSRTC Managing Director on Wednesday saying that the circular mentions only the proposed punishments to drivers as the reason for the demonstration. It was deliberately done to put the struggle in bad light, he alleged.
“Only such officers who are on the payrolls of private operators and are their henchmen can sign such circulars. These are the Trojan horses of private operators,” he alleged.
It appears that the officer is saving the industry through his surveillance activities on those who are fighting for the survival of the industry. Mr. Rao told The Hindu that corporation officials should also have joined the protest. He demanded that the circular be immediately withdrawn and the corporation cooperate with the proposed demonstration.
‘Routine circular’
A senior KSRTC official told The Hindu that corporation’s primary aim was to ensure passenger service and directions were issued to ensure operation of all services. KSRTC too had opposed the draft Bill, but it cannot participate in the demonstration.
The circular issued by the Vigilance Department was a routine one to keep tabs on the operations and earnings, the officer said.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy told The Hindu that he could neither call for a demonstration nor support one. But he had registered strong objections to the draft Bill during the recently held transport Ministers’ meeting in Delhi.
