Date:25/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/25/stories/2008092555140100.htm

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Talks on interim relief fail again

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Talks resumed by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy with leaders of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Employees, Teaches and Workers on Wednesday to resolve the contentious issue of interim relief (IR) failed.

Continuing the talks for more than an hour, Dr. Reddy offered eight per cent IR from January 1, 2009, and to increase it to 13 per cent from April 1, 2009, but the JAC leaders, who were led by its chairman V. Gopal Reddy and secretary-general K. Swamy Goud, rejected it as “totally unacceptable”.

“We do not know if the future dispensation will honour this commitment, if there is a change of the government,” they said. They trooped out of the room while a large number of employees, who gathered outside the Chief Minister’s office, raised anti-government slogans demanding 30 per cent IR. Mr. Gopal Reddy and Mr. Goud, however, positively responded to Dr. Reddy’s appeal to come for yet another round of talks to be held by Finance Minister K. Rosaiah, saying “we will attend”. Mr. Rosaiah said an invitation would be sent shortly indicating the date.

The JAC leaders later told presspersons that they would decide the future course of action at a meeting on October 3.