Kolkata, Aug 16: Amidst stand-off between operators and the West Bengal government, the ruling Left Front has called for dialogue and withdrawal of the 72-hour transport strike in the state from August 26 against hiked taxes. "Transport operator's organisations should not put the people in difficulty by going on strike, instead, they should sit for dialogue with the government. Transport Minister Subhas Chakrabarty has declared that the doors are open for talks," Left Front chairman Biman Bose said here yesterday. The two major bus operator's organisations, the joint council of bus syndicate and Bengal bus syndicate responded saying that they were agreeable to "meaningful discussions" with the government.
"But if Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty continues to take a rigid stand on our demands, we have no other option but to strike," president of joint council of bus syndicate Sadhan Das said today.
Das said that the minister has invited transport operator organisations for talks on August 18. "We will participate despite our rally on the same day in support of our demands".

President of Bengal bus syndicate Swarnakamal Saha acknowledged that bus operators did not want to inconvenience people, but were "forced" to give a strike call because of the "rigid stand" of the transport minister to their demands.
He alleged that beside hiked taxes, the police, in the name of traffic violations, "were virtually resorting to revenue collection". Bureau Report