On Monday, January 27, 2020, the members of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) staged a protest with an aim to oppose the move of privatisation. Hundreds of employees took to the streets of Mumbai, which was also supported by Samarth BEST Employees’ Union head and BJP leader, Nitesh Rane.
While attending the protest Rane mentioned that he won't allow Shiv Sena to sell the undertaking to contractors. The protest which was spread across 1.5-km stretch from Veer Kotwal Garden in Dadar to Wadala depot, was also supported by Congress-affiliated BEST Workers’ Union and citizen forum Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST.
Talking about the same while criticising the government, Rane said, “The Sena government has completed 55 days and has only found time to discuss the city’s nightlife but not workers’ concerns. Before becoming the chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray made false promises and accused the BJP for not letting the Sena help workers. Now, despite being in the government, he is silent over their concerns."
The General secretary of BEST Workers’ Union, Shashank Rao, also showed his support and said that this decision to run buses without conductors will be taken to court. While making a statement of merging the budget of the BEST with the BMC budget, he said that despite the vacant positions not being filled, officials are planning to hire contract workers, which could become a threat to the current jobs.
Sharing futher concerns, the convener of Aamchi Mumbai, Aamchi BEST, Vidyadhar Date said the bus services should also get a bigger priority and this is being neglected at the cost of Metro network.
Share
Tweet
