HYDERABAD: A day after the Hyderabad High Court reserved its order in cases filed regarding elections to the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), T Shesh Narayan's plea to call off the strike fell on deaf ears, as the groundsmen and other maintenance staff decided to continue the strike on Wednesday. Narayan is a former HCA executive committee member, and the lone candidate for the post of secretary. “We decided to continue the strike as we need to be promised that at least four of our demands would be met,” one of the staff told Express.
There are eight demands in total. When asked about his visit to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Narayan said: “I told them if new administration comes to power, their grievances will be discussed, and steps will be taken to address the problems. But the ground should not be left like this. It's by working on this very ground that they earn their livelihood.”
He added the decision to protest should have been taken in January itself. However, the staff were in no mood to be swayed. “We've heard these promises many times from different parties. But we want specific time and date. We've no other option but to keep demanding and continue the strike,” a groundsman said. It was the 12th day of the pen-down strike. Election to HCA was held on January 17, but the declaration of results was stayed by the HC after a petition was filed by incumbent secretary and other officials challenging the election process. The court had refused to stay the elections.
vishal@newindianexpress.com