Political leaders stand by protesting TSRTC staff

Falaknuma: Even as the TSRTC strike entered 10th day on Monday with no signs of any resolution of the crisis, many political parties backed the JAC union in their support.

They staged protest at Falaknuma Bus depot and organised a rally on Monday. JAC members, along with Congress, BJP and AITUC leaders, raised slogans against the State government and KCR while backing the ongoing strike.

During the protest they held Chief Minister responsible for the deaths of two TSRTC employees: Driver Srinivas Reddy who immolated himself; and conductor B Surender Goud, a resident of Jiyaguda, who committed suicide on Sunday.

The TSRTC employees of Falaknuma depot, led by JAC union secretary M Shankar and members Ravinder, TK Rao, Sikander, Ghouse, Zameer and Congres leaders K Venkatesh and SP Kranti Kumar, BJP senior leader, P Laxman and AITUC leader K Yadgiri and others, paid their respects to the deceased employees. They demanded that the government support their families financially and also fulfill the JAC demands.

Later, they took out a protest rally from Falaknuma to Shamsheergunj, raising slogans against CM KCR. More than 500 employees participated in the rally. JAC union secretary M Shankar said that when the government was saying that RTC was facing losses then why the government transferred the funds from its coffers to other departments, while keeping the salaries of employees pending.

He also questioned that if the RTC is running in a loss so why is the government hiring private employees and buses by spending Rs 1000 and Rs 1500 each worker daily.

While speaking to The Hans India Venkatesh said that the Congress party was supporting the JAC and also asked the employees not to take their own lives. He demanded the state government to support the deceased families and also to fulfill their demands.

Venkatesh also said that in Hyderabad region has more than 300 buses, which are running and around 50 buses are in Falaknuma depot alone. "The government is spending an amount of Rs 1000 and 1500 for each private worker hired for services, but unfortunately these hired workers are charging exorbitantly the brunt of which is being faced by passengers, who are forced to spend more amount in ticket prices", he added.