Bengaluru: Even as the decision of the KSRTC employees to go on indefinite stir has paralysed the state transport system, the Chief Minister has clarified on Monday that he would not resort to slamming Essential Services Maintenance Act.

Bengaluru: No ESMA will be slammed on the KSRTC employees and the government will not hike the salary also, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Monday at his residence ‘Krishna’.

Addressing a press meet he said that the ESMA is not on cards and it is also clear that there won’t be any hike in the pay also. The government won’t budge down to the demands of KSRTC staff.

“KSRTC is already in loss by increasing the pay to 10 per cent. If the employees demand is recompensed then it will be a extra burden of Rs 1550 crore to the corporation,” he said adding that 10 per cent is a huge hike. None of the previous governments have increased to ten per cent. It would be better for employees to agree with ten percent and return back to the work.

Meanwhile, in Koppala division several employees reported to duty fearing that the government would slam ESMA. It is said that their seniors had directed them to report to work failing which action would be taken against them under ESMA