Sep 11 – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declined to fulfil the protesting truckers’ demand on Monday, while Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar dismissed the shutdown call as an attempt to “blackmail the government” and play politics.
“It is not a good development to blackmail the government and put passengers into inconvenience. Women are benefitted by the free travel Shakti scheme,” Shivakumar stated.
Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru that the proprietors of private buses are in difficulty as a result of the introduction of the free fare policy.We will take action in this regard. Even if auto drivers are in trouble, we will look into it as we are aware of the situation,” he stated.
In response to the protest, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared that private buses are losing money as a result of the implementation of the free transit policy.“Private transporters have placed a demand before the government to cover the losses. This demand of the private transport organisations can’t be fulfilled,” CM Siddaramaiah stated.
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Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, CM Siddaramaiah stated, “The private transporters are placing unrealistic demands. They are claiming loss incurred due to the free travel scheme, is it possible to refund their losses?
“There is no provision to take action on their protest. Let them protest without violating the law. The Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy will look into the demands.”
Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy requested that the administration investigate the issues without ego and with kindness. “The demands are not impossible ones. The government should not forget that they have families, parents and children to take care of.
He also said that the adverse effects of the assurance schemes had begun to harm people. People who took out loans to buy cabs and taxis and make a living have taken to the streets. He went on to say that the private transportation network, which competed with government transportation, had now been dismantled.
