<p>Hubballi: Akhila Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Naukarara Mahamandali has decided to go on an indefinite strike from August 5, as the state government has not yet responded to its demands or its strike notice.</p>.<p>Mahamandali president K S Sharma said there is no question of withdrawing the strike now.</p>.<p>He was speaking to media persons in Hubballi on Wednesday after a state-level meeting over the strike.</p>.<p>Sharma criticised the government for its negligent attitude towards the employees of road transport corporations and said the government has invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) as a weapon to threaten the employees. </p>.<p>Calling the Esma invocation an anti-labour policy, Sharma said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should take the employees into confidence and fulfil their demands when all associations jointly give a call for a strike instead of testing patience. </p>.<p>“It is ironic that the chief minister has not called for a meeting. Is this the way to run a government? Is it a people’s government or not?” he questioned.</p>.<p>“We are not slaves — we are employees who serve both the government and the public. Running a government by invoking Esma won’t work for long; it will backfire,” he warned.</p>
<p>Hubballi: Akhila Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Naukarara Mahamandali has decided to go on an indefinite strike from August 5, as the state government has not yet responded to its demands or its strike notice.</p>.<p>Mahamandali president K S Sharma said there is no question of withdrawing the strike now.</p>.<p>He was speaking to media persons in Hubballi on Wednesday after a state-level meeting over the strike.</p>.<p>Sharma criticised the government for its negligent attitude towards the employees of road transport corporations and said the government has invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) as a weapon to threaten the employees. </p>.<p>Calling the Esma invocation an anti-labour policy, Sharma said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should take the employees into confidence and fulfil their demands when all associations jointly give a call for a strike instead of testing patience. </p>.<p>“It is ironic that the chief minister has not called for a meeting. Is this the way to run a government? Is it a people’s government or not?” he questioned.</p>.<p>“We are not slaves — we are employees who serve both the government and the public. Running a government by invoking Esma won’t work for long; it will backfire,” he warned.</p>
