Not sure for how long I will be minister, Sriramulu

Bengaluru: As Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers begin indefinite strike seeking for a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 12,000, Health Minister B Sriramulu on Friday, January 3 said that he doesn’t know how long he will be a minister and whether he could sort out the workers’ issues in the meantime.

Sriramulu who is in New Delhi said that he would discuss and try to resolve all their issues, but not sure if he could sort out the workers’ issues in the meantime because he doesn’t know how long he will be a minister.

It may be recalled that Sriramulu’s discontent about not being made deputy chief minister is not new.

Meanwhile, a team of Health Department officials visited the protest site and tried to negotiate.

With negotiations not yielding fruit, the protesters continued their demonstration at Freedom Park.

Hours later, the leaders of KarnatakaState Samyukta ASHA Workers Association, who had planned to stage a two-day day and night strike in Bengaluru and continue the strike indefinitely in their respective places till their demands are met, decided to go back on Friday itself, with city police not giving them permission.

Association leaders said they would start an indefinite strike from Saturday at their respective places by not providing service.