RTC staff to hold meeting in Saroornagar on October 30

HYDERABAD: Reacting to comments of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on the ongoing strike of TSRTC employees, Joint Action Committee convener Ashvatthama Reddy asserted that the agitating staff cannot be removed from services as though they are employees of KCR’s farmhouse.

“Those who believe employees can be dismissed will have to count their days of remaining in power,” he remarked asserting that KCR will have to fulfil his promise of merging RTC with the state government, as promised by him during the agitation for separate Telangana.

Addressing a gathering at the Dharna Chowk near Indira Park coinciding with the one-day hunger strike by women employees of RTC, Ashvatthama Reddy accused the CM of disowning RTC staff and unions, whose support he had sought during the movement for Telangana statehood. He said the RTC JAC has decided to hold a public meeting at Saroornagar on October 30 to explain its stand to people.

Meanwhile, reacting to Chief Minister’s comments, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson K. Krishna Saagar Rao said KCR is acting as though he is the CEO of a profit-centric private enterprise than being a democratically elected Chief Minister. He maintained that the TRS candidate winning the Huzurnagar by-poll is a natural progression, as by-polls are usually won by the ruling party.

Telangana Jana Samiti president Prof M. Kodandaram contested the government’s stand that bus services were running in the state despite the employees being on strike.