Private Bus Owners Warn Of State-Wide Strike From Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: While Odisha Drivers’ Associations’ agitation is going rough on the streets, the Private Bus Owners Association today warned of a state-wide bus strike from tomorrow.

The association threatened the same as the police could not protect the bus staff during the ongoing protest of Driver Mahasangha.

Speaking to media persons, Devendra Sahu, secretary of the State Private Bus Owners Association said, “Bus workers were humiliated, beaten up. The passengers were forced to get down from the bus. If the state highway and national highway are not cleared by today evening, we will stop the bus service from tomorrow and will launch a protest on the road for an indefinite period.”

Due to the state-wide agitation by the drivers, the bus workers have been facing various problems throughout the day and night. The Private Bus Owners Association today called a meeting and discussed the police inaction.

“We thought that the police administration would cooperate during the movement of the drivers’ union.” So, we had continued the bus service. The police did not cooperate with us. Drivers are causing traffic congestion in the presence of the police,” he added.

On the other hand, drivers’ agitation was raised in the State Assembly. The Congress and BJP MLAs created ruckus. The Speaker announced the adjournment of the house for 10 minutes.

During zero Hour, Congress MLA Narsingh Mishra raised the issue of the drivers. He said that instead of helping them, the government wants to divide their association in a bid to foil their protest. Due to strike, the public transport has been paralyzed.