No end to Mumbai commuters' woes as BEST bus strike enters the third day

BEST bus service is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.

There seems to be no end to woes of lakhs of commuters in Mumbai as an indefinite strike by employees of the city's civic transport undertaking continued for the third day Thursday.

Not a single bus of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) plied on Mumbai roads since morning, an official said.

Commuters complained that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were charging much more than normal rates. Some harried commuters also appealed to the Maharashtra government to take necessary steps to end the protest.

A senior BEST official expressed hope of the stalemate getting resolved soon.

Nearly 32,000 BEST employees are on an indefinite strike since Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries and merger of the budget of the loss-making undertaking with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The state government had moved quickly to invoke the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the striking BEST employees, while its management asked them to end the stir and come to the negotiating table.

ALSO READ: Ordeal continues for Mumbai commuters as BEST strike enters second day

The BEST administration had on Wednesday cracked the whip, issuing notices to over 2,000 staffers to vacate houses provided by the undertaking. It also held dialogue with BEST workers' union leader Shashank Rao, but it did not yield a positive outcome.

Despite the Shiv Sena-affiliated union, BEST Kamgar Sena, withdrawing from the protest, only 11 buses plied on the roads on Wednesday, an official said.

Ashish Chemburkar, the chairman of the BEST committee that handles the day-to-day affairs of the undertaking, said they were going to hold meetings with representatives of the protesting staffers on Thursday.

"We are hopeful of arriving at a concrete solution today. Everyone wants an end to this deadlock for the sake of Mumbaikars," Chemburkar told PTI.

Another official said BEST's general manager was expected to hold meetings with union leader Rao, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who party rules the BMC, is also likely to intervene in the matter, he said.

Passengers continued to face inconvenience and some complained that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were trying to fleece them.

Vinod Dubey, who travels from suburban Andheri to Versova daily by BEST bus, said, "The auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are charging two to three times more than normal rates, and if we refuse to pay that amount, they are denying us the ride. This exploitation must be stopped."

Business Standard

Bharat Bandh today: Millions of workers, farmers on nationwide strike: 10 updates

The all-India strike is against the Modi government's failure to address rural distress issues, to save rural farmers' lands from the corporates, says protesters.

Bharat Bandh : Millions of workers are on a two-day, nationwide strike today to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's labour policies. Meanwhile, farmers and students from across the country will join the general strike. According to AITUC general secretary Amarjeet Kaur, sectors like banking, education, coal, steel, telecom, health, electricity, insurance and transport, inter alia, are likely to extend support to the strike.

"AIKS and Bhumi Adhikar Andolan will observe 'gramin hartal', rail roko and road roko on January 8 and 9, the day trade unions are observing nationwide general strike. This move is against the Modi government's failure to address rural distress issues, to save rural farmers' lands from the corporates," said Hannan Mollah, general secretary of the CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).

Top 10 developments on 2-day strike by trade union:

1. Who is supporting?

Farmers, 10 central trade unions, student and teacher organisations are supporting the strike. The 10 central trade unions going on strike include Indian the National Trade Union Congress, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Trade Union Coordination Centre, Self Employed Women's Association, All India United Trade Union Centre, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Labour Progressive Federation, and United Trade Union Congress

.

2. Police in Kolkata detains CPM workers protesting in support of a 48-hour nationwide strike called by central trade unions. Their demands include minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

3. In Odisha, members of central trade unions are holding protests and have blocked commuters in Bhubaneswar demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

4. 25 lakh passengers who travel by BEST buses to be affected: Around 29,000 employees of the transport service BEST are also going on an indefinite strike Due to the strike, around 25 lakh passengers, who travel by 3000 BEST buses that ply on streets of Mumbai city and the metropolitan region every day, will be inconvenienced.

Their demands: Renewal of salary agreements that expired in 2016, a hike in gratuity and bonus, merger of BEST and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budgets.

5. Coal India workers' strike may cost Rs 500 cr: Coal India is expected to lose at least 3.6 million tonnes (mt) of production after four central trade unions (CTUs) decided to join the nationwide strike. This comes in the wake of at least 10 power plants in the country facing severe coal shortages at the very beginning of the new calendar year and Coal India boosting its production to meet the demand from power companies.

Business Standard

Bharat Bandh against SC/ST Amendment Act, Sec 144 imposed in MP: Updates

The members, belonging to upper caste groups are protesting against Parliament passing an amendment to the SC/ST Act.

High alert has been issued in 35 districts across Madhya Pradesh in view of the ongoing Bharat Bandh against the Parliament passing an amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act that overruled Supreme Court's earlier order of diluting it. Apart from that, 34 companies of security forces and 5,000 security personnel have been deployed. Section 144 has also imposed in several districts across Madhya Pradesh, according to ANI reports.

Police told ANI, ”Forces have been divided judiciously across the districts. It has been peaceful till now. Nobody can force anyone to be a part of the bandh.”

Earlier, the members, belonging to upper caste groups, had forced the government to impose Section 144 in Satna, Bhind, Shivpuri, Gwalior, and other districts.

ALSO READ: Can't exclude creamy layer of SC/ST from quota in promotions: Govt to SC

The March 20 judgment

In a bid to check the misuse of the SC/ST Act, the Supreme Court had on March 20 ruled that preliminary enquiry in a case under the Atrocities Act would be done by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to ensure the allegations are not frivolous, and to avoid the false implication of an innocent person.

The court also held that a government official could not be prosecuted on the mere allegation of committing an offence under the Act without the sanction of the appointing authority.

Here are the top developments of the ongoing protest:

1. Schools and petrol pumps will remain shut today in Gwalior and across districts.

2. Markets are now closed, protesters stop a train in Arrah in Bihar

3. Members taking part in the protest also stop a train in Darbhanga and Munger's Masudan, Bihar.

4. Protests spread to Varanasi as several members take part in the nationwide Bharat Bandh.

5. Protests spread across nation: Shops in Ajmer, Rajasthan shut down. Navghar, Maharashtra too hit.

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