Dilly-dallying on strike only to benefit Sena: NCP

Mumbai: While there is no end in sight to the BEST strike, Opposition parties have alleged that the strike has been allowed to linger only to benefit Shiv Sena leaders. Talks of wet-leasing of BEST buses are being held for the benefit of Sena leaders.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “The BEST strike has entered the seventh day. The dilly-dallying is only for the benefit of Sena leaders. A similar ploy was used in case of the Shiv Shahi buses of Maharashtra Sta-te Road Transport Corpor-ation (MSRTC). The Sena must clarify how many bu-ses belong to its leaders.”

Alleged BJP of supporting the strike, Mr Malik said “The BJP wants to handover electric supply to its friend Adani. In fact, both Sena and BJP are ho-lding citizens to ransom to benefit their leadership.”

To protest the BEST strike, Congress corporator Sufiyan Vanu from Antop Hill area staged a dharna outside mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshw-ar’s office at the BMC headquarters Monday afternoon. He held a banner with the message that the BEST strike for the past week was inconveniencing Mumbaikars.

Mr Vanu said “The Sena should have ideally discussed the matter to ensure that the BEST is back in service, however it did not allow any discussion on the matter so far”.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Preeti Sharma Menon alleged that the state government was “anti-labour”. She added, “We support the demands of the protesters and are shocked that the government is unaffected by the longest BEST strike ever.”