New Delhi: Bus services were disrupted across the city for the second day today due to the strike by DTC employees demanding a compensation of Rs one crore to the kin of a driver killed in a road rage incident.
Lakhs of commuters faced hardships in commuting due to the strike.
In order to restore normalcy in transport services, the Delhi government has clamped Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the agitating staff asking them to join their duties.
However, DTC claims that services in South and east Delhi are normal and more than 2,000 buses are plying on the road and the number is expected to increase gradually.
"No inconvenience to public will be allowed. This strike is politically motivated. Enough time was given to striking employees to return and resume their service and ESMA has been notified," a senior official told PTI.
The government action came after people across the city faced a tough time commuting in the absence of DTC buses. The DTC drivers are demanding a compensation of Rs. 1 crore to family of driver Ashok Kumar (42), who was beaten to death on Sunday allegedly by a youth after his bus grazed the latter's bike in Mundka area of west Delhi.
"This is no more a strike but a shok-sabha (condolence meet). We will not cremate the body of Ashok till government agrees to meet our demand. Government should pay Rs. one crore as compensation and a government job to one of the family members. Ashok had 18 years of service left, so government should pay his full salary of 18 years," Satya Narayan, the brother of deceased said demanding security for DTC drivers.
The family is also protesting along with DTC drivers at the Rohini bus depot and may meet Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the day.
Transport minister Gopal Rai on Sunday announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the family and a permanent job in the transport department for one member of the family.
The government has also decided to bear all the medical expenses of the wife of the deceased. It said it will also bear the cost of education of the driver's daughter.
