Govt. staff strike called off 

There seems to be confusion among the striking employees as most of them are refusing to resume work saying that they had already spent half-day abstaining from duty.

The KSGEA President H.N. Sheshegowda announced at a press conference in Bangalore at around noon that the strike was called off following second round of talks with the Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy this morning.

He announced in the presence of MLC Puttannaiah that the Chief Minister had agreed to fulfil four of their nine demands.

The strike has badly affected the public utility services like hospitals. The K.R. Hospital, Cheluvamba Hospital and other Government Hospitals are worst hit as the patients are left to fend for themselves.

Except few emergency wings, all the other wings of these hospitals are badly affected. Nurses, 'D' Group employees and office staff have boycotted work.

The in-patients were worst hit. An attender abandoned a wheel-chair-bound patient outside the surgical block this morning.

Hundreds of patients, who were unaware of the strike, were seen moving around in the corridors of the hospitals out of confusion.

The employees took out processions after coming out of their offices pressing their demands.

A large group of employees had gathered outside the Association office on Dhanvantri Road. Association Treasurer Boraiah was seen persuading the employees to return to work.

In most of the schools, teachers did not turn up. Only the teachers loyal to the State Government Employees Federation were seen taking classes in some schools.

Federation ridicules

The Federation has ridiculed the KSGEA for withdrawing the strike midway. Federation Secretary L.R. Narasimhaiah said that the KSGEA President Sheshegowda announced the withdrawal of the strike as it was a failure.

"In fact, the strike itself was unnecessary. We had told them not to call for a strike as the new Government came to power hardly a month ago and it needed time to consider the demands of the employees," he added.