Politicos warn CM not to precipitate matters

Kacheguda: Leaders and activists of various opposition parties and workers on Wednesday undertook a 'padayatra' from local RTC depot to Chaderghat in support of the striking employees.

They raised slogans demanding merger of RTC in government. Addressing the participants, CPI(M) leader Mahender described the strike as 'just', while expressing confidence of its success.

He pledged to oppose Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's proposal to RTC privatisation, alleging that "KCR wants to make money by selling the assets and is resorting to provocation of the employees and also misleading people with his announcements."

The CPI(M) leader said if KCR failed to hold discussions with the RTC JAC, the CM alone would have to take the blame for the consequences for the October 19 state-wide bandh. He demanded immediate release of Rs 2,800 crore to RTC and the government should meet the employees' demands before the strike took a serious turn.

Among the participants in the padayatra were Sudarshan (Shiv Sena), Venkatesh (AITUC), Venkatesham (SWF), R K Reddy (TMYR), activists Shankar, Ravikumar, Arun and Mallesh, Kumar.