Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena on Friday reassured the striking members of the Drivers’ Ekta Mahasangh to resolve their issues within three months and appealed to them to withdraw their agitation keeping in view the ongoing Matric examination and the problems caused to the public in general due to the strike.
On the other hand, the Mahasangh has reiterated that it will continue its strike until all its demands are fulfilled by the government. “We have been agitating for over a year now and cannot wait for any more,” said Mahasangh president Prashant Menduli, adding, “We are determined to continue with the strike.”
Appealing to the drivers to call off the strike, Chief Secretary Jena said, “I am sure the government will honour its commitment to resolve the issue of the drivers in three weeks. Therefore, I request you withdraw the agitation and arrive at an amicable solution through dialogue. I will soon invite you for talks on the issues raised by you.”
According to him, incidents of violence have been reported from several places in the state during the strike and this is undesirable. “We have information that some anti-social elements have infiltrated into the demonstrations stage by you. Their interest does not lie in solving your problem, but creating mischief and law and order problem,” Jena said in his appeal.
“I request you to shun violence and solve your issues through discussion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Menduli told reporters on Friday that the Drivers’ Mahasang will continue with their agitation until the Odisha government makes an announcement conceding their demands. He said, “Yesterday, the Chief Secretary had given us written assurance to resolve our grievances within three months. But not a single member is happy over such assurance.”
At the same time, Menduli appealed to the members of the Mahasangh to maintain peace during the agitation.
It is worth mentioning here that the drivers are on an indefinite strike since Wednesday to press for their 10-point charter of demand, including wages and social security.
