Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Calls for Peaceful Protests, Calling Some Demands From Private Transporters "Impossible"

 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed the ongoing situation on Monday, emphasizing that certain demands put forth by private transporters, who are presently observing a bandh by abstaining from operating on the roads, are, in his view, unattainable and cannot be accommodated.

The Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has organized this 'bandh,' resulting in the withdrawal of numerous private vehicles, including autos, taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, and corporate buses, from service. This collective action has significantly disrupted the daily routines of various segments of society, including school students and office-goers who heavily rely on these modes of transportation.

While discussing the private transporters' bandh in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah expressed the importance of upholding democratic principles, acknowledging that in a democracy, the right to conduct protests and strikes is fundamental. However, he underscored that these actions should be carried out peacefully.

During a press interaction, the chief minister noted that he and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy have attentively listened to the transporters' demands. However, he raised concerns about the feasibility of certain demands, deeming them "impossible" to fulfill. One such demand pertains to the Shakti scheme, which provides free transportation for women on public transport buses. 

Transporters have asserted that this initiative has caused them losses, as women have shifted away from private buses to avail themselves of the government's free bus rides. Consequently, they have called upon the government to compensate them for these purported losses. Siddaramaiah clarified that this particular request is not practically viable, as the Shakti scheme primarily aims to benefit women and should not be compromised.

The Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has also called for a ban on bike taxis and urged the government to extend the Shakti scheme, offering free bus rides to women on state-run transport buses, to include private buses as well, among other demands. The transporters argue that the Shakti scheme has adversely affected their operations and insist that the state government has failed to address their concerns despite numerous discussions and negotiations.