Driving school strike: Transport Minister invites driving school owners for talks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the strike called by driving school owners against the driving test reforms introduced by the Motor Vehicle Department is intensifying, the government is gearing up to solve the matter by holding compromise talks. Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar on Tuesday invited all the organizations of driving school owners for a discussion. The discussion will be held in the minister's chamber on Tuesday at 3 pm.

The minister, who was in Indonesia, returned to Kerala on Monday morning. He will reach the office on Tuesday. Till the other day, the minister's office had reiterated that the government was not ready for a compromise talk and that the strike would end on its own. The minister later decided to hold talks with the protesters as the strike went past 14 days.

Meanwhile, the High Court will consider the petition filed by the driving schools against the driving test reforms on May 21. The strike committee is planning to carry out the strike vigorously till the court issues the verdict. Due to the ongoing strike, driving tests were suspended in many places across the state. Several applicants who came for the driving test had to go back as the protesters did not release the vehicles for the driving test. CPM leader AK Balan had also come forward criticising the minister. The CITU also announced its support for the strike.