Auto drivers postpone laying of siege to AP CM's house

Hyderabad, Jan 29 (UNI) With Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy calling them for talks, the agitating auto drivers today postponed their plan to lay siege to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's residence demanding scrapping of the Government's order imposing fixing of digital metres.

The Agriculture Minister took the initiative in the absence of Transport Minister Kanna Lakshminaayana.

The three-wheeler drivers, who have been on strike for the past nine days, laid a siege to the RTO office two days ago and the police had to resort to lathicharge on them.

However, the two rounds of talks the union leaders had with Mr Raghuveera and Weights and Measures Commissioner R P Meena had failed in the morning. Third rounds of talks were scheduled for the evening.

The union leaders said they would accept nothing short of withdrawal of GO 213, which imposes fixing of digital metres.

School students and employees were the worst sufferers due to the strike, as they could not reach their places of work on time. Though the Andhra Pradesh State Road Corporation (APSRTC) had made some extra arrangements to meet the situation, they were inadequate.

UNI