Telangana employees’ strike continues, talks fail
October 15th, 2011 - 4:03 pm ICT by IANS
Hyderabad, Oct 15 (IANS) The indefinite strike by government employees in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh demanding a separate state continued for the 33rd day Saturday as the talks between leaders of employees and the government failed to break the deadlock.
The leaders of the Telangana Employees’ Joint Action Committee (TEJAC) held another round of talks with the cabinet sub-committee Saturday.
While the government claimed that there was some progress, the TEJAC leaders ruled out withdrawing the strike without the centre announcing a road map for carving a separate Telangana state.
A day after indications that TEJAC has softened its stand, its leaders accused the government of making false propaganda and conspiring to divide the employees.
“Our only demand is formation of separate Telangana state. Even if the government files false cases against us or removes us from service, we are not going to call off the strike,” TEJAC leader Swami Goud told reporters.
Another leader Srinivas Goud alleged that the government was making a false claim that the employees are ready to call off their strike. “We have set some preconditions for talks but the government is calling them demands. Our only demand is Telangana state,” he said.
The preconditions for talks include withdrawal of cases registered against striking employees, the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) which enables government to ban strikes, and a government order on ‘no work no pay’.
“At a time when all sections of civil society in Telangana are on strike, withdrawal of strike by employees will not resolve the crisis,” Srinivas said while denying media reports that employees were contemplating to call off the strike as they have lost self-confidence.
The TEJAC leaders also alleged that media distorted the statement of Swami.
“He (Swami) only stated that leaders of Congress and TDP (Telugu Desam Party) from Telangana are not discharging their historic responsibility of fighting for separate state,” Srinivas said.
A few minutes before TEJAC leaders spoke to the media, a minister and member of the cabinet sub-committee D. Nagender claimed that some progress was made in the talks.
He also stated that the government is ready to consider TEJAC’s demands.
On Telangana issue, Nagender said it was conveyed to the employees’ leaders that the issue is under active consideration of the central government and hoped that a solution would be found soon.
- Talks between government, Telangana employees fail - Oct 12, 2011
- Telangana employees call off 42-day-old strike - Oct 25, 2011
- Telangana employees boycott talks over proposed strike - Aug 05, 2011
- Telangana employees reject invitation for talks - Aug 11, 2011
- Telangana remains paralysed for second day - Sep 14, 2011
- Telangana employees gearing up for indefinite strike - Aug 07, 2011
- Telangana employees threaten another strike - Feb 10, 2012
- Striking Telangana employees arrested ahead of protest - Oct 23, 2011
- Telangana employees return to work after 16 days - Mar 05, 2011
- Telangana strike completes a month, buses off roads - Oct 12, 2011
- Telangana employees launch protest for separate state - Aug 09, 2011
- Telangana employees determined to strike - Jul 21, 2011
- Andhra backtracks on 'no work, no pay' order - Apr 16, 2011
- Telangana protests: Siege at Congress ministers' homes - Sep 29, 2011
- General strike continues in Telangana for separate state - Sep 15, 2011
Tags: action committee, deadlock, esma, essential services, false propaganda, government employees, indefinite strike, leaders of congress, maintenance act, preconditions, road map, self confidence, services maintenance, strikes, striking employees, swami, tdp, telugu desam party