Chennai, January 10: Bus strike continued to cripple normal life in Tamil Nadu for the seventh day today. The strike has been called by transport unions over wage-related issues. As many as 17 trade unions have launched an indefinite stir across the state since Thursday night, with scores of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) staff joining the protest.  The strike comes ahead of the famous Pongal festival. Union leaders admit the strike had caused inconvenience to the people ahead of the festive season as state-run buses play a major role in transporting hundreds of thousands daily.

On Tuesday, family members of striking employees of state-run buses in Tamil Nadu staged demonstrations across the state. The authorities refused to accept the demands of the striking employees, who are seeking higher wages, and kept recruiting temporary bus drivers in a desperate attempt to restore bus services in the sprawling state, PTI reported.

The members of transport unions staged protests in Coimbatore, Teynampet and other areas in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister CM Edappadi K.Palanisamy on Wednesday appealed the transport unions to withdraw strike and report to work immediately. A Bill proposing hike in monthly salary and other allowances for MLAs has been tabled by the Chief Minister in the state assembly. Meanwhile, DMK's MK Stalin on bill proposing hike in monthly salary for MLAs said, “People will laugh at us for this hike when transport workers in the state are on strike demanding salary hike”.

The government claims that half the fleet is back on the roads, but commuters denied the claim.  Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar announced special buses for Pongal but commuters said this looked like a promise only on paper.  The striking workers again turned down a plea of the Minister to resume work.  The strike resonated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly where DMK leader M.K. Stalin urged the Chief Minister to talk to the striking workers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2018 07:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).