Government firm on deadline

Hyderabad: The state government has decided to continue with its tough stand against the unrelenting striking RTC workers. It has decided not to give any further extension for the striking employees to re-join duty.

It has also decided not to go back on its decision to privatise the RTC. The government is confident that the High Court verdict would be in its favour.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who reviewed the issue at a meeting here on Monday with officials and Transport minister, felt that his government had given a very good opportunity to the employees and now the ball was in their court.

If they do not report to duty before the end of the deadline on midnight of Tuesday, they would be foregoing the chance to save their jobs once and for ever, he said.

The meeting felt that in such an eventuality the government would have no other option but to go in for privatisation of all routes. It also felt that in the eventuality of the High Court verdict going against the government stand, it should immediately move the Supreme Court.

The meeting felt that the workers should realise that the RTC employees had fallen into the trap of the unions and were becoming victims. The unions have their own selfish motives and it is time the employees understand this.

The government felt that if it was forced to go in for total privatisation, then the RTC workers will have to take the blame. The government wants the RTC to survive but it is the unions with their senseless agitation were killing it, the meeting felt.

Advocate General BS Prasad told the Chief Minister that the High Court has no powers to direct the government on the RTC strike.

The meeting also felt that if the case goes to the Supreme Court, it will become a never-ending battle and may take several years before it was disposed in the apex court. This will not be either in the interest of the RTC or its employees.