RTC JAC leaders detained at Gun Park; Dharna at Indira Park postponed

By Sreenivasa Rao Dasari  Published on  7 Oct 2019 8:31 AM GMT
RTC JAC leaders detained at Gun Park; Dharna at Indira Park postponed

TSRTC employees find fault with TRS govt; Congress, Maoists extend support to strike

Hyderabad: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) JAC leaders who had assembled in large numbers near Gun Park to pay homage to Telangana martyrs on the second day of the strike, were detained by the Telangana police on Monday. Among them, JAC chairman Ashwathama Reddy and other leaders were detained.

Mr Ashwathama Reddy said, “RTC employees played a significant role in the Telangana movement. Because of the RTC employees, the TRS is in power. We're not afraid of being arrested.”

Meanwhile, the protest and dharna that was proposed to be held at Indira Park on Monday has been postponed as the police denied approval. JAC leaders will decide on the future course of action at the next meeting.

RTC employees complained that the annual losses are not covered by the state government.

Employees said, “We have always been demanding that the state government increase its fleet of RTC buses. But, TSRTC management continues to encourage the hiring of private buses. Several political leaders and officials have hired out their buses to the TSRTC. The hired buses account for almost 50 per cent of the total fleet of TSRTC. As a result, TSRTC is losing revenues. If the RTC management increases the number of buses, revenues will improve. We have also suggested the setting up of new ancillary units for manufacturing spare parts and tyres for RTC buses.”Meanwhile, passengers are complaining that RTC, unions, and government are causing inconvenience to them. “Travelling from Hyderabad to the district headquarters is ok. But from district headquarters to remote villages is a big problem,” said a passenger.

“I was able to reach Kazipet from Hyderabad comfortably. However, from Kazipet to Mulugu was a challenge for me,” said Srinivas, who works at Hitech City.

“Generally, the fare from Moul Ali to Secunderabad is Rs 10, but I paid Rs 100 on Monday,” said Abdullah.

CPI (Maoist) party state secretary Mr Jagan called on the RTC employees to hold a militant like agitation. “The TRS government is trying to privatise TSRTC. That's the reason the Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao denied the merger proposal of the TSRTC,” he said.

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Mr Bhatti Vikramarka further said that “the TRS government is in the process of privatising the TSRTC. Employees have a right to strike in a democracy. Without holding discussions with the unions, the Chief Minister is threatening employees. Congress always supports the welfare of employees. The high state taxes on diesel are one of the major reasons for RTC losses."

Congress leader and Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkata Reddy said that the Congress was ready to fight until the justice is given to the RTC employees. We will support the reasonable demands of the RTC employees.

RTC employees at depots across Telangana state paid homage to Telangana martyrs and raised slogans against the state government.

“Chief Minister favoured RTC before the formation of Telangana state. We supported KCR whole-heartedly during the Telangana movement. Now, KCR has changed his language. We are unable to digest the attitude and will continue our fight till we get justice,” said an employee at Karimnagar bus depot.

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