Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu rejected the temple barbers’ demand for minimum wages and other measures for job security on the ground that they could not be considered as government employees.
However, he promised to get ₹25 paid for each tonsure, up from ₹13, as per the decision after the negotiations which Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishna Murthy had with them earlier.
With the Chief Minister refusing to concede their demands to fix monthly salaries and sanction various benefits on par with government staff, the barbers resolved to continue their strike at all major temples except the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). It would be expanded to saloons across the State from June 20.
In the evening, Mr. Naidu was irate as some barbers said their demands should be conceded while he returning to his residence. He warned the barbers not to try and dictate terms to the government.
