Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 15: An audio in which a conversation between a striking employee is heard seeking the intervention of KSRTC union leader, Anantha Subba Rao, for breaking the impasse created by the strike call. Rao was opposed to the idea of going on strike at this juncture.

Rao had advised the employees against going ahead with strike at this time. The employees then had approached farmer leader, Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, and went on strike under his advice. Now, the government is adamant on not yielding to the striking employees. It is taking the measures of suspending and transferring the employees. Ranganath from Mysuru, in the said conversation, is heard pleading with Rao to intervene in the matter. But Rao has refused to get involved.

Anantha Subba Rao had said that it is wrong to go on agitation at this time when the country is faced with the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. He had also said that the transport corporations now lack the ability to absorb the additional financial burden.

Ranganath is heard requesting that the employees are ready to report back to work if Rao takes the mantle now and gets transfer orders of employees cancelled. But Rao has outright refused.

In the eight minute video, Anantha Subba Rao said that the employees are dancing to the tunes of Kodihalli Chandrashekhar and asked them to face the consequences. He said it is not possible now to implement the sixth pay commission recommendation and treat transport staff as government employees. He noted that the striking employees had garlanded his picture with a garland of footwear and asked them to do whatever Kodihalli advises them.