Govt.-JAC talks delicately poised

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, OCT. 14. A little progress was made today in the talks between JAC leaders and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the eve of the proposed indefinite strike of APSRTC employees with the Government making some concessions in the three-hour long discussions.

According to the members of the Sub-Committee, the Government was willing to sanction interim relief in three stages but wage revision would be taken up only next year. On the demand for reduction of Motor Vehicle Tax which at present stands at 15 per cent on RTC buses, the Government indicated its willingness to consider a reduction.

On the major demand of curbing illegal operations, the Government agreed to the constitution of a committee with the special chief secretary heading it and with a nominated member from the JAC being part of it. It concurred with the JAC's view that illegal operations were hitting the corporation. There was no immediate response from the JAC leaders to the proposals as they were not too enthusiastic about the commitment of the Government. Leaders of the constituent unions of the JAC went into a huddle separately and were scheduled to hold a joint meeting later in the night to discuss the proposals.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, the JAC leaders, Mr. B. Rama Rao, Mr. P. Ram Mohan Rao and Mr. R. Laxmaiah, said that strike was inevitable as the Government was not relenting. About 1.25 lakh employees of the corporation would strike work from the early hours of October 15, they said.

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Section  : Southern States
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