Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Motor Transport Workers’ Federation on Monday called off their strike following a cordial discussion between the officials of the Odisha Commerce and Transport Department and representatives of the federation at the Lok Seva Bhawan.
The federation had called for an indefinite strike to protest against the new provision made in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which mandates 10-year imprisonment of the drivers and a fine of Rs 7 lakh in hit-and-run cases.
Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena, Commerce and Transport Department and Principal Secretary Usha Padhi, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Soumendra Priyadarshi, and Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh were present at the meeting and appealed to the federation representatives to withdraw their strike based on a recent statement made by the Union Home Secretary. The federation was requested to withdraw their strike to avoid any inconvenience to the public.
The federation was represented by the President of the All-Odisha Transport Workers Association Janardan Pati, Ullash Swain, and others.
Responding to the state government’s appeal, the federation has stated that the strike has been called off with immediate effect. Both, Chief Secretary and Pati requested the transport workers to withdraw their strike decision.
Earlier, the strike was opposed by the Private Bus Owners’ Association and Truck Owners’ Association.
