Koklata:
The Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, which claims affiliation of 35,000 buses in West Bengal, on Friday called an indefinite statewide strike from September 17 following the steep hike in diesel prices.
"It's impossible for us to run buses any more following the steep increase in diesel price. We have no other option but to go for a strike, " General Secretary of the Syndicate Sadhan Das told a hurriedly called press conference in Kolkata.
He said operators were already running at a loss which would be compounded by the diesel fare hike.
"We have urged the state government several times and the Transport Minister Madan Mitra for an immediate hike in bus fares, but without result. We don't think any further discussion with the minister will make the situation different," he said."
Nearly 35,000 buses statewide would be off the roads following the strike, he added.
Mr Das, however, said, "If the state government changes its mind and agrees to hike bus fares within the next two days, we will withdraw our agitation immediately".
The other major organisation, Bengal Bus Syndicate, headed by Trinamool Congress MLA Swarnakamal Saha has not made known its decision.