In a fitting reply to DMK’s working president M.K. Stalin, Tamil Nadu chief-minister Edpadi K. Palaniswami has asked the Leader of the Opposition to impress upon Transport Unions affiliated to his party to call of strike at once and return to work.

Transport staff members have been on strike for the past six days, crippling normal life and leaving commuters at the mercy of share autos and autorickshaws.  Huge queues and crowds are witnessed at all bus stops and bus terminals even as the striking staff members continue to strike work despite the High Court of Madras asking them to call off their strike and return to work as soon as possible.

Stalin telephoned the chief-minister last weekend and asked him to initiate steps to end the Transporters’ strike by agreeing to their demands. Soon after the Assembly convened for the day yesterday, a resolution was passed to condemn the demise of 12 of its former members after which the Assembly got down to business. Opposition parties were united in their plea to discuss about the ongoing transporters’ strike.

Replying to them, the chief-minister asked Stalin to convince Unions affiliated to his party to return to work and shun the strike in the interest of the people.  He also issued a general appeal to the striking staff members to return to work for their own interest and as well as for the sake of the people.