Strike over, Mumbai chugs back to life

MUMBAI: After two-days of chaos and confusion, Mumbaikars heaved a collective sigh of relief on Tuesday evening after the striking motormen decided to call off their agitation. The agitation was called off after the state government gave an assurance that it would mediate between the strikers and the railway ministry, home minister RR Patil said after his meeting with the motormen representatives. “The government took the lead to resolve the crisis as normal life was thrown out of gear due to the strike and people were facing lot of hardships,” Mr Patil said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said he would fight with the government on genuine demands of motormen and asked them to resume work immediately. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, whose party poll symbol is the railway engine, also warned motormen to call off the strike or else face his party’s wrath. “The motormen should withdraw the strike by afternoon, else my party would oppose the strike,” he said. “People have seen what happens when MNS jumps into the protest. Also, the government should take strict action against the motormen. We have sympathy towards their demands, but harassing commuters in this way is not correct,” he added.

Earlier in the day, the state government had decided to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the motormen, but realising it won’t solve the problem, it ruled out imposing this Act.